SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats
New article in the Veterinary Research Communications jorunal: "Evaluation of the clinical evolution and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats by simulating natural routes of infection".
Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the current pandemic disease denominated as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Several studies suggest that the original source of this virus was a spillover from an animal reservoir and its subsequent adaptation to humans. Of all the different animals affected, cats are one of the most susceptible species. Moreover, several cases of natural infection in domestic and stray cats have been reported in the last few months. Although experimental infection assays have demonstrated that cats are successfully infected and can transmit the virus to other cats by aerosol, the conditions used for these experiments have not been specified in terms of ventilation. We have, therefore, evaluated the susceptibility of cats using routes of infection similar to those expected under natural conditions (exposure to a sneeze, cough, or contaminated environment) by aerosol and oral infection. We have also evaluated the transmission capacity among infected and naïve cats using different air exchange levels. Despite being infected using natural routes and shed virus for a long period, the cats did not transmit the virus to contact cats when air renovation features were employed. The infected animals also developed gross and histological lesions in several organs. These outcomes confirm that cats are at risk of infection when exposed to infected people, but do not transmit the virus to other cats with high rates of air renovation.
Barroso-Arevalo S, Sanchez-Morales L., Barasona JA, Rivera B, Sanchez R. Risalde MA, Agullo-Ros I & Sanchez-Vizcaino JM.
Pig health, from challenge to opportunity
March 15 in Vic Barcelona.
Professor José Manuel Sánchez-Vizcaíno will give a talk entitled "Immunization against African Swine Fever".
Animal´s Health news.
Laboratory Diagnosis of African Swine Fever
VACDIVA: 1st International Workshop for Hunters
The EU H2020 project VACDIVA «A safe diva vaccine for African Swine Fever control and eradication» invites you to participate in this meeting. The seminar will be held On-line 8th February 2022, 09:30-14:00 CET.
We will review the global risk situation and the advances in the development of a safe, effective and DIVA vaccine. The meeting will aim at updating the situation around African Swine Fever, presenting the objectives and results already obtained through the VACDIVA project but will also include different presentations and discussions on three main topics:
- Effective and safe vaccines against African Swine Fever in wild boar and domestic pigs.
- DIVA tests to accompany vaccine candidates.
- African Swine Fever control and eradication strategies for different epidemiological scenarios in the world & Pilot Vaccine test in real environment.
Speakers:
- Žilvinas Ilevičius (European Commission, DG Health and Food Safety)
- Project Coordinator: José Manuel Sánchez‐Vizcaíno (UCM)
- Adam Balint (NFCSO)
- Alain Licoppe (SPW-DEMNA-DNE)
- Carmina Gallardo (CISA‐CSIC)
- Erwin Van den Born (MAH)
- Jaime Bosh (UCM)
- Marta Martinez (INIA)
- Milos Jezek (CZ-FFWS)
- Paloma Rueda (INGENASA)
Simultaneous Translation: English, Spanish, German (other languages to be confirmed according with the audience).
Free assistance! Please confirm your participation in the VACDIVA Website