Early findings from a specialist veterinary hospital in England suggested that domestic cats and dogs infected with the highly transmissible British coronavirus variant developed heart issues amid a winter-changing boom.
“We do not want to spread panic unnecessarily, especially as we currently have a strong suspicion that it is transmitted from human to pet, but not the other way around – and we do not know for sure. But veterinarians need to be aware of this so that they can start testing if they suspect a possible case of Covid infection, ‘said Luca Ferasin, corresponding author and cardiologist at the Ralph Veterinary Referral Center (RVRC) in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Study authors behind the findings published before peer review reported a “sudden surge” of pets with myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, between December and February. The pets had no history of heart disease, and there was some similarity in the cases, with lethargy, lack of appetite, shortness of breath and fainting.
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The pet owners began showing respiratory symptoms for coronavirus a few weeks before the animals became ill, and many owners confirmed positive PCR tests, according to the study. The B.1.1.7 British variant, which is thought to be about 7% more transmissible than other strains, accounted for about 95% of all new infections in the UK on 7 February, and was detected in more than 80 countries. noticed.
“Given this coincidence and the intriguing simultaneous evolution of myocarditis in these pets and the B1.1.7 COVID-19 outbreak in [the] UK, we have decided to investigate SARS-CoV-2 infection in these animals, “write authors of the study.
Authors noted that previous reports of coronavirus-infected pets have documented mild respiratory symptoms such as ‘cough, runny nose, sneezing and conjunctivitis’.
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To conduct the investigation, researchers took samples from six cats and one dog, and blood samples from four more pets at least two weeks after they developed signs of heart problems. Swab samples were stored in sub-freezing conditions until packaged in ice and sent to France for laboratory tests, which indicated that six of 11 animals examined were positive for the virus.
All of the pets improved significantly after rest and medical treatment, with the exception of one cat that caused euthanasia.
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“Although the B.1.1.7 infection in humans is associated with a higher COVID-19 mortality rate or clinical severity, the link between myocarditis and B.1.1.7 infection in pets should be recognized and addressed,” the authors of the study said. wrote.
Ferasin, the corresponding author, acknowledged some bias in the results because the hospital only treats critically ill pets. With this, the true amount of pets that are infected with the variant and that present heart issues is unclear, reports the outlet.
“It is impossible to rule out the possibility that the Sars-CoV-2 shedding was an accidental finding, and it is inevitable that a proposal from any population of animals will test positive. [antibodies to coronavirus] according to the exposition, says Margaret Hosie, a professor of comparative virology at the University of Glasgow’s Center for Virus Research.
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Coronavirus infection has been documented in the course of the pandemic in pets and other animals, although cases with the British variant have only just begun to appear, with one cat in Italy receiving uproar last week after allegedly contracting the British variant from its owners . although said it is recovering.
If pet owners have problems, the author of the study advised contacting a veterinarian, and the other expert Hosie warns to be aware of the transmission of virus to humans. If a pet owner is positive about the virus, she has suggested keeping away from pets and wearing a mask when feeding pets to reduce transmission.