FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Investigation of the Role of Healthy and Sick Equids in the ...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(5); 614; doi: 10.3390/ani12050614

Investigation of the Role of Healthy and Sick Equids in the COVID-19 Pandemic through Serological and Molecular Testing.

Abstract: More and more studies are reporting on the natural transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between humans with COVID-19 and their companion animals (dogs and cats). While horses are apparently susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection based on the homology between the human and the equine ACE-2 receptor, no clinical or subclinical infection has yet been reported in the equine species. To investigate the possible clinical role of SARS-CoV-2 in equids, nasal secretions from 667 horses with acute onset of fever and respiratory signs were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 by qPCR. The samples were collected from January to December of 2020 and submitted to a commercial molecular diagnostic laboratory for the detection of common respiratory pathogens (equine influenza virus, equine herpesvirus-1/-4, equine rhinitis A and B virus, subspecies ). An additional 633 serum samples were tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using an ELISA targeting the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein. The serum samples were collected from a cohort of 587 healthy racing Thoroughbreds in California after track personnel tested qPCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2. While 241/667 (36%) equids with fever and respiratory signs tested qPCR-positive for at least one of the common respiratory pathogens, not a single horse tested qPCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2. Amongst the racing Thoroughbreds, 35/587 (5.9%) horses had detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Similar to dogs and cats, horses do not seem to develop clinical SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, horses can act as incidental hosts and experience silent infection following spillover from humans with COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2-infected humans should avoid close contact with equids during the time of their illness.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2022-02-28 PubMed ID: 35268183PubMed Central: PMC8909032DOI: 10.3390/ani12050614Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article explores whether horses can host and subsequently transmit the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for COVID-19 in humans. The study, conducted in 2020, found no evidence of horses developing clinical SARS-CoV-2 infection, but a small percentage showed signs of silent infection, suggesting possible transmission from humans.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers performed an extensive survey, testing nasal secretions from 667 horses, all of which had symptoms of fever and respiratory distress. The goal was to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus using a method known as qPCR (Quantitative polymerase chain reaction).
  • The nasal secretions were collected throughout 2020 and were also tested for common respiratory pathogens such as the equine influenza virus, equine herpesvirus-1/-4, equine rhinitis A and B virus.
  • Blood serum samples from an additional 633 horses were tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay).
  • The serum samples were collected from a cohort of 587 healthy racing Thoroughbreds in California after track personnel had tested qPCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Research Findings

  • The study found that 36% of the horses with fever and respiratory signs were qPCR-positive for at least one of the common respiratory pathogens, but not a single horse tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
  • A slight 5.9% of the tested Thoroughbred horses had detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, suggesting they had been exposed to the virus but did not develop a clinical infection.
  • The researchers concluded that while horses don’t seem to develop clinical SARS-CoV-2 infection, they can act as incidental hosts and experience silent infection following spillover from SARS-CoV-2 infected humans.

Implications

  • While the study does not provide evidence that horses can contract or show symptoms of COVID-19, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in some horses suggests they can get infected, likely from humans. This means that while the horses themselves may not get ill, they could potentially serve as a source of transmission to other humans.
  • The findings indicate that humans who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 should avoid close contact with equids to prevent potential transmission.

Cite This Article

APA
Lawton KOY, Arthur RM, Moeller BC, Barnum S, Pusterla N. (2022). Investigation of the Role of Healthy and Sick Equids in the COVID-19 Pandemic through Serological and Molecular Testing. Animals (Basel), 12(5), 614. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050614

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 5
PII: 614

Researcher Affiliations

Lawton, Kaila O Y
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Arthur, Rick M
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Moeller, Benjamin C
  • KL Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
  • Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Barnum, Samantha
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Pusterla, Nicola
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.

Grant Funding

  • 2021 / Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
  • 2021 / Center for Equine Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, USA

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 33 references
  1. Zheng J. SARS-CoV-2: an Emerging Coronavirus that Causes a Global Threat.. Int J Biol Sci 2020;16(10):1678-1685.
    doi: 10.7150/ijbs.45053pmc: PMC7098030pubmed: 32226285google scholar: lookup
  2. Damas J, Hughes GM, Keough KC, Painter CA, Persky NS, Corbo M, Hiller M, Koepfli KP, Pfenning AR, Zhao H, Genereux DP, Swofford R, Pollard KS, Ryder OA, Nweeia MT, Lindblad-Toh K, Teeling EC, Karlsson EK, Lewin HA. Broad host range of SARS-CoV-2 predicted by comparative and structural analysis of ACE2 in vertebrates.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 Sep 8;117(36):22311-22322.
    doi: 10.1073/pnas.2010146117pmc: PMC7486773pubmed: 32826334google scholar: lookup
  3. Lan J, Ge J, Yu J, Shan S, Zhou H, Fan S, Zhang Q, Shi X, Wang Q, Zhang L, Wang X. Structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain bound to the ACE2 receptor.. Nature 2020 May;581(7807):215-220.
    doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2180-5pubmed: 32225176google scholar: lookup
  4. Lu G, Wang Q, Gao GF. Bat-to-human: spike features determining 'host jump' of coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and beyond.. Trends Microbiol 2015 Aug;23(8):468-78.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2015.06.003pmc: PMC7125587pubmed: 26206723google scholar: lookup
  5. Abdel-Moneim AS, Abdelwhab EM. Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Animal Hosts.. Pathogens 2020 Jun 30;9(7).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens9070529pmc: PMC7400078pubmed: 32629960google scholar: lookup
  6. Hossain MG, Javed A, Akter S, Saha S. SARS-CoV-2 host diversity: An update of natural infections and experimental evidence.. J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2021 Apr;54(2):175-181.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2020.06.006pmc: PMC7315156pubmed: 32624360google scholar: lookup
  7. Jo WK, de Oliveira-Filho EF, Rasche A, Greenwood AD, Osterrieder K, Drexler JF. Potential zoonotic sources of SARS-CoV-2 infections.. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021 Jul;68(4):1824-1834.
    doi: 10.1111/tbed.13872pmc: PMC7675418pubmed: 33034151google scholar: lookup
  8. Bouricha EM, Hakmi M, Akachar J, Belyamani L, Ibrahimi A. In silico analysis of ACE2 orthologues to predict animal host range with high susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.. 3 Biotech 2020 Nov;10(11):483.
    doi: 10.1007/s13205-020-02471-3pmc: PMC7577366pubmed: 33101829google scholar: lookup
  9. Buonocore M, Marino C, Grimaldi M, Santoro A, Firoznezhad M, Paciello O, Prisco F, D'Ursi AM. New putative animal reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 in Italian fauna: A bioinformatic approach.. Heliyon 2020 Nov;6(11):e05430.
    doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05430pmc: PMC7643666pubmed: 33173837google scholar: lookup
  10. Pusterla N, James K, Barnum S, Delwart E. Investigation of Three Newly Identified Equine Parvoviruses in Blood and Nasal Fluid Samples of Clinically Healthy Horses and Horses with Acute Onset of Respiratory Disease.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 19;11(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11103006pmc: PMC8532786pubmed: 34680025google scholar: lookup
  11. Kooijman LJ, Mapes SM, Pusterla N. Development of an equine coronavirus-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine serologic responses in naturally infected horses.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2016 Jul;28(4):414-8.
    doi: 10.1177/1040638716649643pubmed: 27216723google scholar: lookup
  12. Pusterla N, Kass PH, Mapes S, Johnson C, Barnett DC, Vaala W, Gutierrez C, McDaniel R, Whitehead B, Manning J. Surveillance programme for important equine infectious respiratory pathogens in the USA.. Vet Rec 2011 Jul 2;169(1):12.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.d2157pubmed: 21676986google scholar: lookup
  13. Pusterla N, Mapes S, Wademan C, White A, Hodzic E. Investigation of the role of lesser characterised respiratory viruses associated with upper respiratory tract infections in horses.. Vet Rec 2013 Mar 23;172(12):315.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.100943pubmed: 23423483google scholar: lookup
  14. Zhao S, Schuurman N, Li W, Wang C, Smit LAM, Broens EM, Wagenaar JA, van Kuppeveld FJM, Bosch BJ, Egberink H. Serologic Screening of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in Cats and Dogs during First Coronavirus Disease Wave, the Netherlands.. Emerg Infect Dis 2021 May;27(5):1362-1370.
    doi: 10.3201/eid2705.204055pmc: PMC8084487pubmed: 33900184google scholar: lookup
  15. Okba NMA, Müller MA, Li W, Wang C, GeurtsvanKessel CH, Corman VM, Lamers MM, Sikkema RS, de Bruin E, Chandler FD, Yazdanpanah Y, Le Hingrat Q, Descamps D, Houhou-Fidouh N, Reusken CBEM, Bosch BJ, Drosten C, Koopmans MPG, Haagmans BL. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2-Specific Antibody Responses in Coronavirus Disease Patients.. Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Jul;26(7):1478-1488.
    doi: 10.3201/eid2607.200841pmc: PMC7323511pubmed: 32267220google scholar: lookup
  16. Dróżdż M, Krzyżek P, Dudek B, Makuch S, Janczura A, Paluch E. Current State of Knowledge about Role of Pets in Zoonotic Transmission of SARS-CoV-2.. Viruses 2021 Jun 16;13(6).
    doi: 10.3390/v13061149pmc: PMC8234912pubmed: 34208484google scholar: lookup
  17. Rashedi J, Mahdavi Poor B, Asgharzadeh V, Pourostadi M, Samadi Kafil H, Vegari A, Tayebi-Khosroshahi H, Asgharzadeh M. Risk Factors for COVID-19.. Infez Med 2020 Dec 1;28(4):469-474.
    pubmed: 33257620
  18. Saba L, Gerosa C, Fanni D, Marongiu F, La Nasa G, Caocci G, Barcellona D, Balestrieri A, Coghe F, Orru G, Coni P, Piras M, Ledda F, Suri JS, Ronchi A, D'Andrea F, Cau R, Castagnola M, Faa G. Molecular pathways triggered by COVID-19 in different organs: ACE2 receptor-expressing cells under attack? A review.. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020 Dec;24(23):12609-12622.
    pubmed: 33336781doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202012_24058google scholar: lookup
  19. Deng J, Jin Y, Liu Y, Sun J, Hao L, Bai J, Huang T, Lin D, Jin Y, Tian K. Serological survey of SARS-CoV-2 for experimental, domestic, companion and wild animals excludes intermediate hosts of 35 different species of animals.. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020 Jul;67(4):1745-1749.
    doi: 10.1111/tbed.13577pmc: PMC7264586pubmed: 32303108google scholar: lookup
  20. Cerino P, Buonerba C, Brambilla G, Atripaldi L, Tafuro M, Concilio DD, Vassallo L, Conte GL, Cuomo MC, Maiello I, D'Auria J, Cardinale D, Viscardi M, Rofrano G, Gallo A, Brusco P, Pizzolante A, Cicalese V, Galdi P, Galdi L, Vita S, Volzone P, Vuolo GD, Coppola A, Pierri B, Fusco G. No detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animals exposed to infected keepers: results of a COVID-19 surveillance program.. Future Sci OA 2021 Aug;7(7):FSO711.
    doi: 10.2144/fsoa-2021-0038pmc: PMC8056746pubmed: 34254029google scholar: lookup
  21. Bosco-Lauth AM, Walker A, Guilbert L, Porter S, Hartwig A, McVicker E, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Bowen RA. Susceptibility of livestock to SARS-CoV-2 infection.. Emerg Microbes Infect 2021 Dec;10(1):2199-2201.
    doi: 10.1080/22221751.2021.2003724pmc: PMC8635583pubmed: 34749583google scholar: lookup
  22. Sailleau C, Dumarest M, Vanhomwegen J, Delaplace M, Caro V, Kwasiborski A, Hourdel V, Chevaillier P, Barbarino A, Comtet L, Pourquier P, Klonjkowski B, Manuguerra JC, Zientara S, Le Poder S. First detection and genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in an infected cat in France.. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020 Nov;67(6):2324-2328.
    doi: 10.1111/tbed.13659pmc: PMC7300955pubmed: 32500944google scholar: lookup
  23. Barrs VR, Peiris M, Tam KWS, Law PYT, Brackman CJ, To EMW, Yu VYT, Chu DKW, Perera RAPM, Sit THC. SARS-CoV-2 in Quarantined Domestic Cats from COVID-19 Households or Close Contacts, Hong Kong, China.. Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Dec;26(12):3071-3074.
    doi: 10.3201/eid2612.202786pmc: PMC7706951pubmed: 32938527google scholar: lookup
  24. Patterson EI, Elia G, Grassi A, Giordano A, Desario C, Medardo M, Smith SL, Anderson ER, Prince T, Patterson GT, Lorusso E, Lucente MS, Lanave G, Lauzi S, Bonfanti U, Stranieri A, Martella V, Solari Basano F, Barrs VR, Radford AD, Agrimi U, Hughes GL, Paltrinieri S, Decaro N. Evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in cats and dogs from households in Italy.. Nat Commun 2020 Dec 4;11(1):6231.
    doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20097-0pmc: PMC7718263pubmed: 33277505google scholar: lookup
  25. Calvet GA, Pereira SA, Ogrzewalska M, Pauvolid-Corrêa A, Resende PC, Tassinari WS, Costa AP, Keidel LO, da Rocha ASB, da Silva MFB, Dos Santos SA, Lima ABM, de Moraes ICV, Mendes Junior AAV, Souza TDC, Martins EB, Ornellas RO, Corrêa ML, Antonio IMDS, Guaraldo L, Motta FDC, Brasil P, Siqueira MM, Gremião IDF, Menezes RC. Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats of humans diagnosed with COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.. PLoS One 2021;16(4):e0250853.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250853pmc: PMC8081175pubmed: 33909706google scholar: lookup
  26. Ruiz-Arrondo I, Portillo A, Palomar AM, Santibáñez S, Santibáñez P, Cervera C, Oteo JA. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in pets living with COVID-19 owners diagnosed during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain: A case of an asymptomatic cat with SARS-CoV-2 in Europe.. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021 Mar;68(2):973-976.
    doi: 10.1111/tbed.13803pmc: PMC7461521pubmed: 32810370google scholar: lookup
  27. Hamer SA, Pauvolid-Corrêa A, Zecca IB, Davila E, Auckland LD, Roundy CM, Tang W, Torchetti MK, Killian ML, Jenkins-Moore M, Mozingo K, Akpalu Y, Ghai RR, Spengler JR, Barton Behravesh C, Fischer RSB, Hamer GL. SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Viral Isolations among Serially Tested Cats and Dogs in Households with Infected Owners in Texas, USA.. Viruses 2021 May 19;13(5).
    doi: 10.3390/v13050938pmc: PMC8159091pubmed: 34069453google scholar: lookup
  28. Venter M, Richter K. Towards effective diagnostic assays for COVID-19: a review.. J Clin Pathol 2020 Jul;73(7):370-377.
    doi: 10.1136/jclinpath-2020-206685pubmed: 32404473google scholar: lookup
  29. Wernike K, Aebischer A, Michelitsch A, Hoffmann D, Freuling C, Balkema-Buschmann A, Graaf A, Müller T, Osterrieder N, Rissmann M, Rubbenstroth D, Schön J, Schulz C, Trimpert J, Ulrich L, Volz A, Mettenleiter T, Beer M. Multi-species ELISA for the detection of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in animals.. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021 Jul;68(4):1779-1785.
    doi: 10.1111/tbed.13926pmc: PMC7753575pubmed: 33191578google scholar: lookup
  30. Zhang Q, Zhang H, Gao J, Huang K, Yang Y, Hui X, He X, Li C, Gong W, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Peng C, Gao X, Chen H, Zou Z, Shi ZL, Jin M. A serological survey of SARS-CoV-2 in cat in Wuhan.. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020 Dec;9(1):2013-2019.
    doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1817796pmc: PMC7534315pubmed: 32867625google scholar: lookup
  31. Fritz M, Rosolen B, Krafft E, Becquart P, Elguero E, Vratskikh O, Denolly S, Boson B, Vanhomwegen J, Gouilh MA, Kodjo A, Chirouze C, Rosolen SG, Legros V, Leroy EM. High prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in pets from COVID-19+ households.. One Health 2021 Jun;11:100192.
    doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100192pmc: PMC7641531pubmed: 33169106google scholar: lookup
  32. Shi J, Wen Z, Zhong G, Yang H, Wang C, Huang B, Liu R, He X, Shuai L, Sun Z, Zhao Y, Liu P, Liang L, Cui P, Wang J, Zhang X, Guan Y, Tan W, Wu G, Chen H, Bu Z. Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals to SARS-coronavirus 2.. Science 2020 May 29;368(6494):1016-1020.
    doi: 10.1126/science.abb7015pmc: PMC7164390pubmed: 32269068google scholar: lookup
  33. Sreenivasan CC, Thomas M, Wang D, Li F. Susceptibility of livestock and companion animals to COVID-19.. J Med Virol 2021 Mar;93(3):1351-1360.
    doi: 10.1002/jmv.26621pubmed: 33090532google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Cui X, Wang Y, Zhai J, Xue M, Zheng C, Yu L. Future trajectory of SARS-CoV-2: Constant spillover back and forth between humans and animals.. Virus Res 2023 Apr 15;328:199075.
    doi: 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199075pubmed: 36805410google scholar: lookup
  2. Lawton K, Keller SM, Barnum S, Arredondo-Lopez C, Spann K, Pusterla N. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in 1186 Equids Presented to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in California from 2020 to 2022.. Viruses 2022 Nov 11;14(11).
    doi: 10.3390/v14112497pubmed: 36423106google scholar: lookup
  3. Kumar D, Antiya SP, Patel SS, Pandit R, Joshi M, Mishra AK, Joshi CG, Patel AC. Surveillance and Molecular Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Human Hosts in Gujarat, India.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Nov 3;19(21).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph192114391pubmed: 36361271google scholar: lookup
  4. Pusterla N, Chaillon A, Ignacio C, Smith DM, Barnum S, Lawton KOY, Smith G, Pickering B. SARS-CoV-2 Seroconversion in an Adult Horse with Direct Contact to a COVID-19 Individual.. Viruses 2022 May 14;14(5).
    doi: 10.3390/v14051047pubmed: 35632788google scholar: lookup
  5. Steinman A, Erster O, Tirosh-Levy S. Virus Infection in Equine.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 8;12(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12080957pubmed: 35454204google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.