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

Linlin Bao; Zhiqi Song; Jing Xue; Hong Gao; Jiangning Liu; Jie Wang; Qian Guo; Binbin Zhao; Yajin Qu; Feifei Qi; Shuran Gong; Mingya Liu; Qi Lv; Dan Li; Yunlin Han; Wenjie Zhao; Shoulong Deng; Yunpeng Liu; Zhiguang Xiang; Bochao Yang; Wei Deng; Haisheng Yu; Zhe Cong; Qiang Wei; Jianguo Xu; George F Gao; Chuan Qin

doi:10.1093/infdis/jiab104

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

J Infect Dis. 2021 Apr 23;223(8):1313-1321. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab104.

Authors

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 Guo², Binbin Zhao^{1

2}, Yajin Qu^{1

2}, Feifei Qi^{1

2}, Shuran Gong^{1

2}, Mingya Liu^{1

2}, Qi Lv^{1

2}, Dan Li^{1

2}, Yunlin Han^{1

2}, Wenjie Zhao^{1

2}, Shoulong Deng², Yunpeng Liu², Zhiguang Xiang², Bochao Yang², Wei Deng^{1

2}, Haisheng Yu^{1

2}, Zhe Cong^{1

2}, Qiang Wei^{1

2}, Jianguo Xu³, George F Gao⁴, Chuan Qin^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Models of Emerging and Remerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
² NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Comparative Medicine Center, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
³ National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
⁴ Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.

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 information for protecting the health of humans and cats.

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

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amino Acids / metabolism
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / metabolism
Animals
COVID-19 / metabolism
COVID-19 / transmission*
COVID-19 / veterinary*
Cats
Cell Line
Chlorocebus aethiops
Female
Humans
Male
SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity*
Vero Cells

Substances

Amino Acids
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2