Can Human Transmit COVID-19 to Animal?

Can Human Transmit COVID-19 to Animal?

Boujamaa Imziln, Soraia El Baz

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has infected more than three million people worldwide and it’s widely believed to have originated in horseshoe bats and passed to humans through other species on sale in a wildlife market in Wuhan. First human transmission to dogs has been detected in Hong Kong; which they have caught the novel coronavirus from owners. Other reported cases of cats in Belgium tested positive with COVID-19. Researchers reveal that cats are not only susceptible to contracting coronavirus but can transmit it on other cats as well. Also, a tiger tested positive for COVID-19 after coming into contact with an asymptomatic caretaker. In this report, we provide all cases registered over the world prompting to take a closer look at the human to pet transmission of the virus and to keep measures to prevent exposure. Also, increased transmission of COVID-19 from human to animal can affect the global health security owing to its ability to rapidly spread due to movement of animals. So, we should reevaluate the probability that this outbreak might also be caused by infected pets’ hosts. Particular attention must be also paid to the distribution and the evolution of the virus in animals to control the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020

pets, cat, Dog, coronavirus, COVID-19, human-animal transmission

DOI: 10.5799/jcei/8262

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations

Association of Health Investigations

Medicine