Increase in SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in UK Domestic Felids Despite Weak Immunogenicity of Post-Omicron Variants

Overview

Journal Viruses

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2023 Aug 26

PMID 37632004

Authors

Grace B Tyson

Sarah Jones

Chloe Montreuil-Spencer

Nicola Logan

Sam Scott

Hagar Sasvari

Michael McDonald

Leigh Marshall

Pablo R Murcia

Brian J Willett

William Weir

Margaret J Hosie

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infections in domestic cats have caused concern for both animal health and the potential for inter-species transmission. Cats are known to be susceptible to the Omicron variant and its descendants, however, the feline immune response to these variants is not well defined. We aimed to estimate the current seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in UK pet cats, as well as characterise the neutralising antibody response to the Omicron (BA.1) variant. A neutralising seroprevalence of 4.4% and an overall seroprevalence of 13.9% was observed. Both purebred and male cats were found to have the highest levels of seroprevalence, as well as cats aged between two and five years. The Omicron variant was found to have a lower immunogenicity in cats than the B.1, Alpha and Delta variants, which reflects previous reports of immune and vaccine evasion in humans. These results further underline the importance of surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 infections in UK cats as the virus continues to evolve.

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