Korean Journal of Veterinary Service (한국동물위생학회지)

The Korean Society of Veterinary Service (한국동물위생학회)
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Sustained SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in domestic pets: Insights from a longitudinal study

  • Yeonsu Oh (College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Dongseob Tark (Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University) ;
  • Choi-Kyu Park (College of Veterinary Medicine, Kyungbuk National University) ;
  • Ho-Seong Cho (College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio-Safety Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University)
  • Received : 2023.11.04
  • Accepted : 2023.12.04
  • Published : 2023.12.30
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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has not only impacted human health on a global scale but also raised concerns about the vulnerability of a wide array of animals that are in close contact with humans. Particularly, the potential for infection and the subsequent immune response in domestic pets such as dogs and cats remain largely unexplored under natural living conditions. In this study, we have undertaken the task of detecting and tracking the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in a small cohort of household pets-specifically, two dogs and two cats. Employing techniques such as the indirect ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization tests, we observed that the neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in these animals were maintained for a duration of up to six months following their initial positive test result. This duration mirrors the antibody response documented in human cases of COVID-19, suggesting a comparable post-infection immune response timeline between humans and these domestic animals.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by a fund (Z-1543085-2022-23-01) by Research of Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, South Korea.

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