Household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to dogs in Washington and Idaho: burden and risk factors
Meisner, J.; Baszler, T.; Kuehl, K.; Ramirez, V.; Baines, A.; Frisbie, L.; Lofgren, E.; DeAvila, D.; Wolking, R.; Bradway, D.; Rabinowitz, P.
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SARS-CoV-2 is believed to have emerged from an animal reservoir; however, the frequency of and risk factors for inter-species transmission remain unclear. We carried out a community-based study of pets in households with one or more confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. Among 119 dogs and 57 cats with completed surveys, clinical signs consistent with SARS-CoV-2 were reported in 20 dogs (21%) and 19 cats (39%). Out of 81 dogs and 32 cats sampled for testing, 40% of dogs and 43% of cats were seropositive, and 5% of dogs and 8% of cats were PCR positive; this discordance may be due to delays in sampling. Respondents commonly reported close human-animal contact and willingness to take measures to prevent transmission to their pets. Reported preventative measures showed a slightly protective trend for both illness and seropositivity in pets, while sharing of beds and bowls had slight harmful effects.
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