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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.03.24.436830

New detection of SARS-CoV-2 in two cats height months after COVID-19 outbreak appearance in France

Fritz, M.·Nesi, N.·Denolly, S.·Boson, B.·Legros, V.·Rosolen, S. G.·Briend-Marchal, A.·Ar Gouil, M.·Leroy, E. M.
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Abstract

Although there are several reports in the literature of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats, few SARS-CoV-2 sequences from infected cats have been published. In this report, SARS-CoV-2 infection was evaluated in two cats by clinical observation, molecular biology (qPCR and NGS), and serology (Microsphere immunoassay and seroneutralization). Following the observation of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infection in two cats, infection status was confirmed by RT-qPCR and, in one cat, serological analysis for antibodies against N-protein and S-protein, as well as neutralizing antibodies. Comparative analysis of five SARS-CoV-2 sequence-fragments obtained from one of the cats showed that this infection was not with one of the three recently emerged variants of SARS-CoV-2. This study provides additional information on the clinical, molecular, and serological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats.

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Fritz, M., Nesi, N., Denolly, S., Boson, B., Legros, V., Rosolen, S. G., Briend-Marchal, A., Ar Gouil, M., Leroy, E. M.. 2021-03-24. New detection of SARS-CoV-2 in two cats height months after COVID-19 outbreak appearance in France. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.24.436830

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