COVID-19 and domestic animals: Exploring the species barrier crossing,
zoonotic and reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2
Abstract
To date, more than thirty animals were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2,
all of them infected by humans with COVID-19. Some animal experiments
suggested the possibility of an animal to animal transmission of
SARS-CoV-2 and were seen in some cases of infected animals. Animal to
human transmission was considered unlikely until investigations revealed
the possibility of mink to human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the
Netherlands. Studying the susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 to domestic
animals concluded that pigs, chicken, and ducks were not vulnerable to
Covid-19; dogs showed less susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and cats as well
as ferrets were seen susceptible to Covid-19. SARS-CoV-2 is seen
crossing the species barrier, infecting humans from the wild with the
source yet unclear, spreading from humans to humans quickly, humans to
animals, animals to animals, and is likely to spread from animals to
humans even though minimally. Animals appear somewhat resistant to
SARS-CoV-2 transmission compared to humans who globally crossed eight
million infection cases, and the infected animals mostly do not show
many complications and recover quickly. Precautions are advised to
prevent human to animal transmission of the virus, and in some areas,
avoid animal to human spread of the virus. Further monitoring is
required to assess the SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals as COVID-19 is a
rapidly evolving condition worldwide.