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. 2021 Feb 19:jiab104. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab104

Susceptibility and Attenuated Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 in Domestic Cats

Linlin Bao 1,2,#, Zhiqi Song 1,2,#, Jing Xue 1,2,#, Hong Gao 1,2,#, Jiangning Liu 1,2,#, Jie Wang 1,2, Qian Guo 2, Binbin Zhao 1,2, Yajin Qu 1,2, Feifei Qi 1,2, Shuran Gong 1,2, Mingya Liu 1,2, Lv Qi 1,2, Dan Li 1,2, Yunlin Han 1,2, Wenjie Zhao 1,2, Shoulong Deng 2, Yunpeng Liu 2, Zhiguang Xiang 2, Bochao Yang 2, Wei Deng 1,2, Haisheng Yu 1,2, Zhe Cong 1,2, Qiang Wei 1,2, Jianguo Xu 4, George F Gao 3,✉, Chuan Qin 1,2,✉
PMCID: PMC7928776  PMID: 33605423

Abstract

Domestic cats, an important companion animal, can be infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). This has aroused concern regarding the ability of domestic cats to spread the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019. We systematically demonstrated the pathogenesis and transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 in cats. Serial passaging of the virus between cats dramatically attenuated the viral transmissibility, likely owing to variations of the amino acids in the receptor-binding domain sites of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 between humans and cats. These findings provide insight into the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 in cats and provide information for protecting the health of humans and cats.

Article Summary Line: Domestic cats are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and have attenuated transmissibility after serial passaging.

Keywords: cats, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, transmissibility, pathogenesis, susceptibility

Articles from The Journal of Infectious Diseases are provided here courtesy of Oxford University Press

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