Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals to SARS-coronavirus 2

[sl8]

From https://science.sciencemag.org/content/early/2020/04/07/science.abb7015

Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals to SARS–coronavirus 2

Jianzhong Shi1,*, Zhiyuan Wen1,*, Gongxun Zhong1,*, Huanliang Yang1,*, Chong Wang1,*, Baoying Huang2,*, Renqiang Liu1, Xijun He3, Lei Shuai1, Ziruo Sun1, Yubo Zhao1, Peipei Liu2, Libin Liang1, Pengfei Cui1, Jinliang Wang1, Xianfeng Zhang3, Yuntao Guan3, Wenjie Tan2, Guizhen Wu2,†, Hualan Chen1,†, Zhigao Bu1,3,†
See all authors and affiliations

Science 08 Apr 2020:
eabb7015
DOI: 10.1126/science.abb7015

Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the infectious disease COVID-19, which was first reported in Wuhan, China in December, 2019. Despite the tremendous efforts to control the disease, COVID-19 has now spread to over 100 countries and caused a global pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is thought to have originated in bats; however, the intermediate animal sources of the virus are completely unknown. Here, we investigated the susceptibility of ferrets and animals in close contact with humans to SARS-CoV-2. We found that SARS-CoV-2 replicates poorly in dogs, pigs, chickens, and ducks, but ferrets and cats are permissive to infection. We found experimentally that cats are susceptible to airborne infection. Our study provides important insights into the animal models for SARS-CoV-2 and animal management for COVID-19 control.

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[rampartc]

1. yikes

if this becomes widespread in cats we will never get rid if it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Between this and the possibility of the virus going dormant, we just added a whole

new layer to our dystopian future.

[Stryst]

3. I keep pet rats

I've had some worries, since one of the few things that people and rats easily share are respiratory infections. URIs are a leading cause of death for domestic rats. They're tough little guys (I actually have girls), but their little noses and lungs are delicate.