Molecular screening of SARS-CoV-2 in dogs and cats from households with infected owners diagnosed with COVID-19 during Delta and Omicron variant waves in Iran.

Baharak AkhtardaneshMaziar JajarmiMohammadreza ShojaeeSina Salajegheh TazerjiMaziar Khalili MahaniPouneh HajipourRasha Gharieb

Published in: Veterinary medicine and science (2022)

This study reported the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in household cats in close contact with COVID-19 positive owners during the circulation of new SARS-CoV-2 variants (Delta and Omicron) in Iran and suggested that the transmission may have occurred from owners to their cats. Therefore, infected owners should eagerly limit close contact with their pets during COVID-19 illness.

Keyphrases

sars cov
respiratory syndrome coronavirus
coronavirus disease
copy number
gene expression