Virus

Disease

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Biology

Pandemic

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak

Internal medicine

Engineering

Domestication

Coronavirus

Medicine

Transmission (telecommunications)

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Outbreak

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Virology

Ecology

CATS

Electrical engineering

Pathology

Veterinary medicine

Science

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the infectious disease COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), which was first reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Despite extensive efforts to control the disease, COVID-19 has now spread to more than 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 unknown. In this study, 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. Additionally, cats are susceptible to airborne transmission. Our study provides insights into the animal models for SARS-CoV-2 and animal management for COVID-19 control.

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