Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant (B.1.617.2) in Domestic Dogs and Zoo Tigers in England and Jersey during 2021
2024
Amanda H. Seekings | Rebecca Shipley | Alexander M. P. Byrne | Shweta Shukla | Megan Golding | Joan Amaya-Cuesta | Hooman Goharriz | Ana Gómez Vitores | Fabian Z. X. Lean | Joe James | Alejandro Núñez | Alistair Breed | Andrew Frost | Jörg Balzer | Ian H. Brown | Sharon M. Brookes | Lorraine M. McElhinney
Reverse zoonotic transmission events of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been described since the start of the pandemic, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) designated the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animals a reportable disease. Eighteen domestic and zoo animals in Great Britain and Jersey were tested by APHA for SARS-CoV-2 during 2020–2023. One domestic cat (<i>Felis catus</i>), three domestic dogs (<i>Canis lupus familiaris</i>), and three Amur tigers (<i>Panthera tigris altaica</i>) from a zoo were confirmed positive during 2020–2021 and reported to the WOAH. All seven positive animals were linked with known SARS-CoV-2 positive human contacts. Characterisation of the SARS-CoV-2 variants by genome sequencing indicated that the cat was infected with an early SARS-CoV-2 lineage. The three dogs and three tigers were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern (B.1.617.2). The role of non-human species in the onward transmission and emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly defined. Continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in relevant domestic and captive animal species with high levels of human contact is important to monitor transmission at the human−animal interface and to assess their role as potential animal reservoirs.
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