Human infection with SARS-CoV-2 poses a risk for transmission to animals. To characterize the risk for cattle, we serologically investigated 1,000 samples collected from cattle in Germany in late 2021. Eleven antibody-positive samples indicated that cattle may be occasionally infected by contact with SARS-CoV-2-positive keepers, but we found no indication of further spread.
Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; Germany; SARS-CoV-2; animal; cattle; coronavirus disease; epidemiology; livestock; reservoir; respiratory infections; ruminants; serology; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.