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Home / Equine Research Bank / Viruses / Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in 1186 Equids Presented to a V...
Viruses2022; 14(11); 2497; doi: 10.3390/v14112497

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in 1186 Equids Presented to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in California from 2020 to 2022.

Abstract: While some companion animals have been shown to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, their role in the COVID-19 pandemic has remained poorly investigated. Equids are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 based on the similarity of the human ACE-2 receptor and reports of infection. Clinical disease and prevalence factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in equids have not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and selected prevalence factors in 1186 equids presented for various conditions to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital over a two-year period. Blood samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using an ELISA targeting the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Further, selected prevalence factors (season, age, breed, sex, presenting complaint) were retrieved from the medical records. No information was available on whether the horses had come into contact with COVID-19-positive individuals. Among the study animals, 42/1186 (3.5%) horses had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Amongst the prevalence factors investigated, only seasonality (spring) was associated with a greater frequency of seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2. Horses with medical and surgical complaints were more likely to test seropositive to SARS-CoV-2 compared to horses presented for routine health care procedures, suggesting more frequent and/or longer interactions with individuals with COVID-19. While horses can become infected with SARS-CoV-2 via the occasional spillover from COVID-19 individuals, clinical disease expression remains subclinical, making horses an unlikely contributor to the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
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Publication Date: 2022-11-11 PubMed ID: 36423106PubMed Central: PMC9696554DOI: 10.3390/v14112497Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The researchers conducted a study to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, in horses and uncover any factors that might influence its prevalence.

Objective of the Study

  • The primary aim of this research was to determine if horses (referred to as “equids” in the study) could be infected with SARS-CoV-2, and if so, what factors could influence its prevalence. The study was performed because the role of companion animals in the COVID-19 pandemic has not been well researched, while there are indicators that horses could be susceptible to this virus due to the similarities between their and human’s ACE-2 receptor.

Methodology Used in the Study

  • The study involved blood testing of 1186 horses who were presented to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in California during 2020-2022. Blood samples were tested for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, using a ELISA which targets the receptor-binding domain (RDB) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
  • Researchers also investigated certain prevalence factors such as season, age, breed, sex, and presenting complaint, which were retrieved from the horses’ medical records.

Findings from the Study

  • The researchers found that 42 out of 1186 (3.5%) of the study animals had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. This indicates those animals had been exposed to the virus at some point.
  • Among the prevalence factors investigated, only seasonality (specifically Spring) was associated with a higher frequency of seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2.
  • More specifically, horses presenting with medical and surgical complaints were more likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 compared to those who were there for routine healthcare procedures. This suggests that these horses had been exposed more frequently and/or had longer interactions with individuals carrying COVID-19.

Conclusion of the Study

  • Despite some horses tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the study found that the clinical disease expression remains subclinical, meaning the horses did not show observable signs of illness. Hence, it concluded that while horses can get infected via sporadic transmission from humans, they are unlikely to contribute to the spread of the virus.

Cite This Article

APA
Lawton K, Keller SM, Barnum S, Arredondo-Lopez C, Spann K, Pusterla N. (2022). Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in 1186 Equids Presented to a Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in California from 2020 to 2022. Viruses, 14(11), 2497. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14112497

Publication

Viruses
ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 11
PII: 2497

Researcher Affiliations

Lawton, Kaila
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Keller, Stefan M
  • Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, 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.
Arredondo-Lopez, Christina
  • Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
Spann, Kennedy
  • 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.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • California
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / veterinary
  • Horses / virology
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Hospitals, Animal

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
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