Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages in companion cats and dogs in the USA: insights into their role in COVID-19 epidemiology

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in companion animals is critical for evaluating their role in viral transmission and their potential as sentinels for human infections. This large-scale serosurvey analyzed serum samples from 706 cats and 2,396 dogs collected across the USA in 2023 using a surro...

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Main Authors: Subarna Barua, Nneka Vivian Iduu, Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo, Asfiha Tarannum, Hill Dimino, Suchita Barua, Yue Shu, Calvin Johnson, Megan R. Miller, Kelly Chenoweth, Peter Christopherson, Laura Huber, Theresa Wood, Kelley Turner, Chengming Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Emerging Microbes and Infections
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2024.2437246
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author Subarna Barua
Nneka Vivian Iduu
Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo
Asfiha Tarannum
Hill Dimino
Suchita Barua
Yue Shu
Calvin Johnson
Megan R. Miller
Kelly Chenoweth
Peter Christopherson
Laura Huber
Theresa Wood
Kelley Turner
Chengming Wang
author_facet Subarna Barua
Nneka Vivian Iduu
Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo
Asfiha Tarannum
Hill Dimino
Suchita Barua
Yue Shu
Calvin Johnson
Megan R. Miller
Kelly Chenoweth
Peter Christopherson
Laura Huber
Theresa Wood
Kelley Turner
Chengming Wang
author_sort Subarna Barua
collection DOAJ
description Understanding SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in companion animals is critical for evaluating their role in viral transmission and their potential as sentinels for human infections. This large-scale serosurvey analyzed serum samples from 706 cats and 2,396 dogs collected across the USA in 2023 using a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Overall, 5.7% of cats and 4.7% of dogs tested positive for antibodies, with younger animals (under 12 months) showing significantly lower seropositivity rates (p = 0.0048). Additionally, we analyzed 153 positive samples for variant-specific antibody responses using six sVNT kits targeting the Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages. Among cats, 67.5% showed antibodies to Delta, with positivity rates for Omicron sublineages as follows: BA.1 (62.5%), BA.2 (42.5%), BA.4/BA.5 (77.5%), XBB (52.5%), and XBB.1.5 (45.0%). In dogs, 55.8% were positive for Delta, and Omicron sublineage rates were BA.1 (46.0%), BA.4/BA.5 (37.2%), XBB (58.4%), BA.2 (13.3%), and XBB.1.5 (9.7%). Given the close contact between companion animals and humans, and the persistence of antibodies against various SARS-CoV-2 variants and sublineages, our findings suggest that seroprevalence in cats and dogs may serve as valuable tool for tracking COVID-19 epidemiology.
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spelling doaj-art-367485b9d95b430e84a6b69c8bf952652025-08-20T02:50:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEmerging Microbes and Infections2222-17512025-12-0114110.1080/22221751.2024.2437246Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages in companion cats and dogs in the USA: insights into their role in COVID-19 epidemiologySubarna Barua0Nneka Vivian Iduu1Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo2Asfiha Tarannum3Hill Dimino4Suchita Barua5Yue Shu6Calvin Johnson7Megan R. Miller8Kelly Chenoweth9Peter Christopherson10Laura Huber11Theresa Wood12Kelley Turner13Chengming Wang14Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USACollege of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USACollege of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USACollege of Sciences and Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USACenter for Veterinary Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USADepartment of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USAUnderstanding SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology in companion animals is critical for evaluating their role in viral transmission and their potential as sentinels for human infections. This large-scale serosurvey analyzed serum samples from 706 cats and 2,396 dogs collected across the USA in 2023 using a surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Overall, 5.7% of cats and 4.7% of dogs tested positive for antibodies, with younger animals (under 12 months) showing significantly lower seropositivity rates (p = 0.0048). Additionally, we analyzed 153 positive samples for variant-specific antibody responses using six sVNT kits targeting the Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages. Among cats, 67.5% showed antibodies to Delta, with positivity rates for Omicron sublineages as follows: BA.1 (62.5%), BA.2 (42.5%), BA.4/BA.5 (77.5%), XBB (52.5%), and XBB.1.5 (45.0%). In dogs, 55.8% were positive for Delta, and Omicron sublineage rates were BA.1 (46.0%), BA.4/BA.5 (37.2%), XBB (58.4%), BA.2 (13.3%), and XBB.1.5 (9.7%). Given the close contact between companion animals and humans, and the persistence of antibodies against various SARS-CoV-2 variants and sublineages, our findings suggest that seroprevalence in cats and dogs may serve as valuable tool for tracking COVID-19 epidemiology.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2024.2437246SARS-CoV-2Delta variantOmicron sublineagessurrogate virus neutralization testcats and dogsUSA
spellingShingle Subarna Barua
Nneka Vivian Iduu
Daniel Felipe Barrantes Murillo
Asfiha Tarannum
Hill Dimino
Suchita Barua
Yue Shu
Calvin Johnson
Megan R. Miller
Kelly Chenoweth
Peter Christopherson
Laura Huber
Theresa Wood
Kelley Turner
Chengming Wang
Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages in companion cats and dogs in the USA: insights into their role in COVID-19 epidemiology
Emerging Microbes and Infections
SARS-CoV-2
Delta variant
Omicron sublineages
surrogate virus neutralization test
cats and dogs
USA
title Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages in companion cats and dogs in the USA: insights into their role in COVID-19 epidemiology
title_full Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages in companion cats and dogs in the USA: insights into their role in COVID-19 epidemiology
title_fullStr Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages in companion cats and dogs in the USA: insights into their role in COVID-19 epidemiology
title_full_unstemmed Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages in companion cats and dogs in the USA: insights into their role in COVID-19 epidemiology
title_short Nationwide seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant and five Omicron sublineages in companion cats and dogs in the USA: insights into their role in COVID-19 epidemiology
title_sort nationwide seroprevalence of sars cov 2 delta variant and five omicron sublineages in companion cats and dogs in the usa insights into their role in covid 19 epidemiology
topic SARS-CoV-2
Delta variant
Omicron sublineages
surrogate virus neutralization test
cats and dogs
USA
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/22221751.2024.2437246
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