SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance in a Veterinary Health System Provides Insight into Transmission Risks

The authors analyzed the oral and nasal swabs of over 300 animals presenting to the Colorado State University’s Veterinary Health System to understand whether companion and exotic animal pets were affected by SARS-CoV-2. They found virus RNA in 1.6% of dogs and 1.1% of domestic cats, while none was detected in exotic pets (e.g., rabbits, hedgehogs, and hamsters). Over 17 months, however, they found an 11.7% seropositivity rate for all dogs and cats studies, leading them to emphasize the need for additional research on seasonality and the rate of transmission by variant.