FARAH - ULiège
" We recently showed that domestic cats can be spontaneously infected by SARS-CoV-2 and develop transient, yet severe, pneumonia. Similar reports in other countries confirmed the susceptibility of cats, ferrets, lions and tigers to the infection. Dogs can get infected but, apparenlty, subclinically. Beside the importance of these findings for veterinarians and animal health, a series of domestic or wild animal species might constitute a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2 and dramatically complicate the "uncontainment" process. Domestic cats, minks, ferrets, hamsters, dogs, tigers and lions were all shown to be naturally or (for some species) experimentally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, cats, minks, ferrets and hamsters were shown to be able to efficiently transmit the virus to in-contact animals. Little is known about the actual host range of the virus. It is critically needed to determine which domestic, peri-domestic (especially rodents) and wild animals can be infected by the virus and constitue potential reservoirs. The existence of such an animal reservoir would seriously affect the long-term efficiency of containment and future prophylactic measures. To assess the animal species susceptible to the infection, we screen animal samples using direct (PCR) and indirect (serology) methods. Using these methods, we were the first to show the susceptiblity of domestic cats to SARS-CoV-2 induced pneumonia. "
Funding: No funding so far.
Contact: Professor Daniel Desmecht Department of Pathology Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Centre for Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH) Liège Université Quartier Vallée 2 Avenue de Cureghem 6 (B43) B-4000 Liège (Belgium) Phone: +3243664075 e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.