Lots of research about new corona virus It has been developed and published in international scientific journals in recent months. And it’s not just about the impact of infection on human health. Studies on injury and effect on the animals It is also in progress. So what is known so far?
As I already mentioned in my Healthy Pets column, Cats and other cats They appear to be more susceptible to infection with the virus because they have a human-like ACE2 receptor (responsible for entering the pathogen into the cell). The same thing happens with nipper (Crediter’s son).
Recently, a group of researchers found the presence of corona virus in mink In the farms where these animals are raised in the Netherlands and on 24 cats in the same place.
A lab experiment showed, once again, that the SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates more easily in cats. A study published in the respected medical journal The New England Journal of Medicine It was observed that cats that were vaccinated with the infectious agent in the laboratory contracted the virus, and transmitted it to other cats with whom they had been in contact. Thus, research proves that cats are more susceptible to infection.
It is important to clarify that There is, to date, no report that a pet, cat or not, has transmitted the coronavirus to humans..
In the case of Dutch mink farms, the situation is strange because they are places with a high animal density and do not simulate the contact environment at home between a pet and its owner.
Four employees diagnosed with Sars-CoV-2 are still under investigation on these farms. By all indications, it looks like these people might be The first cases of infection due to contact with animalssince genetic analysis of the virus shows a similarity to the mink, not to the species that circulates in the Dutch population.
But there is no judgment yet and I intend to update you soon here.
It should be noted that reports of natural infection with the Corona virus in pets rare At the moment, the presence of the virus does not mean that it will Patient. To date, nine cats in this condition have been reported worldwide (Belgium, China, the United States, France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Russia).
still notes that Dogs are less susceptible to the virus. So far we have received two reports of naturally infected dogs, both in China. Recently, the US government announced that a German shepherd had been confirmed to have the coronavirus, VEJA said.
In addition to these recorded episodes, there are five episodes tigers It’s three black At the New York Zoo in the United States.
We need to make it clear that there is a significant difference between becoming infected in the real environment and within a lab experiment. From the studies in which the coronavirus was inoculated in animals, it is already known that in these experimental models the pathogen can be infected, in addition to felines and rodents, hamsters, rabbits, rhesus monkeys, cynomolgus monkeys, African green monkeys, monkey. and fruit bats. Pigs and mice were not infected.
Once again: there is no news about the transmission of infection from companion animals to humans worldwide.
Only with time and more studies will we have accurate information about disease progression in animals and will we be able to better understand the behavior of the virus between species. Therefore, the recommendation Wash your hands before and after touching your pet and respect the rules social isolationwhich is also suitable for them.
In the case of dogs that are used to their toilet on the streets, try to go out only for this purpose. Regarding cats, avoid going outside and try to place screens in environments to prevent escape.
If anyone in the household has tested positive for coronavirus, they should only handle the animal with protective gloves and a mask, or use alcohol gel before and after handling the animal. The best thing is to ask a friend or family member to help take care of the pet until the infection is cured for maximum protection.
I confirm here that very few pets were infected with the corona virus The pathogen was caught from humans – not the opposite!
Therefore, there is no reason to stop having animals for companionship, let alone give them up. Friendship remains important to both sides, even during the tough times of a pandemic.