New detection of SARS-CoV-2 in two cats height months after COVID-19 outbreak appearance in France

Fritz, Matthieu; Nesi, Nicolas; Denolly, Solène; Boson, Bertrand; Legros, Vincent; Rosolen, Serge G.; Briend-Marchal, Alexandra; Gouilh, Meriadeg Ar; Leroy, Eric M.

Although there are several reports in the literature of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats, few SARS-CoV-2 sequences from infected cats have been published. In this report, SARS-CoV-2 infection was evaluated in two cats by clinical observation, molecular biology (qPCR and NGS), and serology (Microsphere immunoassay and seroneutralization). Following the observation of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infection in two cats, infection status was confirmed by RT-qPCR and, in one cat, serological analysis for antibodies against N-protein and S-protein, as well as neutralizing antibodies. Comparative analysis of five SARS-CoV-2 sequence-fragments obtained from one of the cats showed that this infection was not with one of the three recently emerged variants of SARS-CoV-2. This study provides additional information on the clinical, molecular, and serological aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats.