SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing serum antibodies in cats: a serological investigation

Zhang, Q.; Zhang, H.; Huang, K.; Yang, Y.; Hui, X.; Gao, J.; He, X.; Li, C.; Gong, W.; Zhang, Y.; Peng, C.; Gao, X.; Chen, H.; Zou, Z.; Shi, Z.; Jin, M.

doi:10.1101/2020.04.01.021196

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.04.01.021196

SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing serum antibodies in cats: a serological investigation

Zhang, Q.·Zhang, H.·Huang, K.·Yang, Y.·Hui, X.·Gao, J.·He, X.·Li, C.·Gong, W.·Zhang, Y.·Peng, C.·Gao, X.·Chen, H.·Zou, Z.·Shi, Z.·Jin, M.

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Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread worldwide. Previous studies suggested cat could be a potential susceptible animal of SARS-CoV-2. Here, we investigated the infection of SARS-CoV-2 in cats by detecting specific serum antibodies. A cohort of serum samples were collected from cats in Wuhan, including 102 sampled after COVID-19 outbreak, and 39 prior to the outbreak. 15 of 102 (14.7%) cat sera collected after the outbreak were positive for the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Among the positive samples, 11 had SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies with a titer ranging from 1/20 to 1/1080. No serological cross-reactivity was detected between the SARS-CoV-2 and type I or II feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV). Our data demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 has infected cat population in Wuhan during the outbreak.

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Zhang, Q., Zhang, H., Huang, K., Yang, Y., Hui, X., Gao, J., He, X., Li, C., Gong, W., Zhang, Y., Peng, C., Gao, X., Chen, H., Zou, Z., Shi, Z., Jin, M.. 2020-04-03. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing serum antibodies in cats: a serological investigation. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.01.021196

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