Possible Human-to-Dog Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Italy, 2020

Emerg Infect Dis. 2021;27(7):1981-1984. doi: 10.3201/eid2707.204959. Epub 2021 May 12.

Abstract

We detected severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in an otherwise healthy poodle living with 4 family members who had coronavirus disease. We observed antibodies in serum samples taken from the dog, indicating seroconversion. Full-length genome sequencing showed that the canine and human viruses were identical, suggesting human-to-animal transmission.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; Italy; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 transmission; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; dogs; humans; next-generation sequencing; phylogeny; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COVID-19*
  • Dogs
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • SARS-CoV-2*