PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Spring 2020 - 18

Q&A SUMMARY OF PVMA'S VIRTUAL TOWN HALL
Information is not available regarding what other conditions
potentially leading to respiratory or gastrointestinal signs were
considered or evaluated for this cat. The cat reportedly became
ill one week after its owner had returned from Italy, but the date
samples were collected in relationship to when the cat's clinical
signs first appeared and how those samples were collected (e.g.,
directly from the cat, off the floor) are also not known. Because
other etiologic causes for the cat's illness appear to have not
been excluded and little is known about the samples in which
viral material was detected, a clear link between the presence
of viral material and clinical signs consistent with coronavirus
infection cannot be established. The condition of the cat
reportedly improved 9 days after onset of clinical signs.
On March 30, the AFCD reported that a pet cat that lived in a
residence with an individual confirmed to be ill with COVID-19
had tested positive, using RRT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 via oral cavity,
nasal, and rectal samples. Results of testing of oral and nasal
swab samples collected on April 1 were also positive. The cat is
in quarantine and has exhibited no clinical signs of disease.
On April 5, the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories
confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in one tiger in a zoo in New York. This
is the first instance of a tiger being infected with COVID-19.
Samples from the tiger were obtained and tested after several
lions and tigers at the zoo showed clinical signs of respiratory
illness. Public health officials believe the large cats became
sick after exposure to an employee who was actively shedding
virus. The zoo was closed in mid-March and the first tiger
began showing clinical signs on March 27. All of the large cats
are expected to recover and no other animals in the zoo are
exhibiting clinical signs of disease. USDA and CDC are continuing
to monitor the animals, and state animal and public health
officials will determine whether other animals, at this zoo or in
other areas, should be tested for SARS-CoV-2. The OIE will also
be notified.
A preprint of a research article posted online on March 30 at
bioRxiv has raised public concern that cats and ferrets might
be able to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 and transmit the virus
to other animals. A 2003 Brief Communication published in
the journal Nature during the SARS outbreak similarly provided
results of the experimental infection of cats and ferrets with
the related virus, SARS-CoV. We emphasize caution in not
overinterpreting the results described in these articles, and
also not extrapolating them to the potential for SARS-CoV-2 to
naturally infect or be transmitted by companion animals kept as
pets.
How long does Coronavirus survive on a dog or cat of a
Corona positive owner once they are isolated?
There's still a lot that's unknown about SARS CoV-2, the virus
that causes COVID-19, and environmental persistence. CDC
suggests Coronavirus can live on hard surfaces up to 3 days, but
there's more research coming out every day. Given the physical
characteristics of cats and dogs, there is no evidence that the
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virus can survive on the animal for more than a couple of hours.
Out of an abundance of caution, dogs that have had direct
contact with a patient with COVID-19 can be bathed. Cats can be
difficult to bathe, so quarantine is suggested in this situation.
Is the new Coronavirus similar to or related to any known
Coronaviruses of veterinary significance? What's the
possibility of a mutation getting into the usual animal species
we see?
SARS-CoV-2 is not closely related to the coronaviruses most
familiar to veterinarians. Additionally, there are other more
common strains of coronavirus, including HKU1, that cause the
common cold in humans. While there is no way to predict the
future, it seems likely that there will be a mutation that would
facilitate another species jump and make it transmissible among
animals.
Is there any information that identifies the time it takes from
exposure to a positive TEST (no clinical signs)?
We are learning more about COVID-19, including the
relationship between symptom onset and infectivity. There
is new research every day, and we are doing our best to keep
up with the science and base our public health decisions on
that. A recent publication in the Annals of Internal Medicine
estimated that the median incubation period from exposure
to onset of symptoms is 5.1 days, with 97.5% of people who
develop symptoms from COVID-19 will do so within 11.5 days
after exposure. At this time, we are basing our public health
investigations on symptom onset.
What is being done to give veterinary workers access to
testing (i.e. to be tested)?
With testing still not widely available, testing is only being done
on people who have traveled internationally in the previous two
weeks, been in direct contact with a person confirmed to have
COVID-19 and has symptoms. If you or your team meet these
criteria, a primary care physician should be called to arrange
testing.
Are there thoughts or recommended protocols at this time for
immunocompromised pets being around their quarantined
owners?
If a pet owner tests positive for COVID-19, they should limit their
exposure to their pet or safely transfer to a trusted caregiver.
Most advice regarding potential/diagnosed COVID-19
patients is to have other family members care for pets while
ill/isolated. How do we advise single-human households?
Can a pet be safely transferred out of the home of someone
isolated/symptomatic to a non-isolated home which may
allow a better quality of life?
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture issued the following
advice to pet owners who may require care for their pet while
sick with COVID-19:
*	 Identify a family member or friend who can care for pets
in case of illness.
PVMA Keystone Veterinarian Spring 2020

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