Whole-Genome Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Reveals Simultaneous Circulation of Three Variants and a Putative Recombination (20B/20H) in Pets, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo

Viruses. 2023 Apr 9;15(4):933. doi: 10.3390/v15040933.

Abstract

Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, cases of pets infected with variants circulating among humans were reported. In order to evaluate the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 circulation among pets in the Republic of the Congo, we conducted a ten-month study of dogs and cats living in COVID-19-positive households in Brazzaville and neighboring localities. Real-time PCR and the Luminex platform were used to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 RBD and S proteins, respectively. Our results show for the first time the simultaneous circulation of several variants of SARS-CoV-2, including viruses from clades 20A and 20H and a putative recombinant variant between viruses from clades 20B and 20H. We found a high seroprevalence of 38.6%, with 14% of tested pets positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Thirty-four percent of infected pets developed mild clinical signs, including respiratory and digestive signs, and shed the virus for about one day to two weeks. These results highlight the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 interspecies transmission and the benefits of a "One Health" approach that includes SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis and surveillance of viral diversity in pets. This approach aims to prevent transmission to surrounding wildlife as well as spillback to humans.

Keywords: NGS; RT-qPCR; Republic of the Congo (RoC); SARS-CoV-2; cats; dogs; pets; serology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / veterinary
  • Cat Diseases*
  • Cats
  • Congo / epidemiology
  • Dog Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Dog Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Dogs
  • Humans
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Recombination, Genetic
  • SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • RNA, Viral

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the French National Agency for Research (ANR-20-COV2-0003-01, SPILLBACK: SARS-CoV-2 endemization in wildlife of an African tropical rainforest through COVID-19 spread in the Republic of the Congo) and by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) through the European Union (EBO-SURSY: FOOD/2016/379-660: Capacity building and surveillance for Ebola virus disease).