tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Animals (Basel)
. 2022 Jun 4;12(11):1459.
doi: 10.3390/ani12111459.
First Description of Serological Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 in Lactating Cows
Filomena Fiorito[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Valentina Iovane[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ugo Pagnini[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Claudia Cerracchio[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sergio Brandi[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Martina Levante[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Luisa Marati[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Gianmarco Ferrara[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Virginio Tammaro[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Esterina De Carlo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Giuseppe Iovane[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giovanna Fusco[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Following the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy), we tested lactating cows for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on a cattle farm at which, prior to the investigation, 13 of the 20 farmworkers showed COVID-19-like symptoms, and one of them died. Twenty-four lactating cows were sampled to detect SARS-CoV-2. All nasal and rectal swabs and milk samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Of the 24 collected serum samples, 11 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, 14 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and 13 developed neutralising antibodies for SARS-COV-2; all samples were negative for Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV), another betacoronavirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of natural serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in lactating cows. We hypothesise that this may be a case of reverse zoonosis. However, the role of cattle in SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission seems to be negligible.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cattle; farmworkers; reverse zoonosis; serology.
. 2022 Jun 4;12(11):1459.
doi: 10.3390/ani12111459.
First Description of Serological Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 in Lactating Cows
Filomena Fiorito[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Valentina Iovane[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ugo Pagnini[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Claudia Cerracchio[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sergio Brandi[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Martina Levante[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Luisa Marati[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Gianmarco Ferrara[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Virginio Tammaro[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Esterina De Carlo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Giuseppe Iovane[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Giovanna Fusco[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35681922
- DOI: 10.3390/ani12111459
Abstract
Following the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy), we tested lactating cows for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on a cattle farm at which, prior to the investigation, 13 of the 20 farmworkers showed COVID-19-like symptoms, and one of them died. Twenty-four lactating cows were sampled to detect SARS-CoV-2. All nasal and rectal swabs and milk samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Of the 24 collected serum samples, 11 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, 14 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and 13 developed neutralising antibodies for SARS-COV-2; all samples were negative for Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV), another betacoronavirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of natural serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in lactating cows. We hypothesise that this may be a case of reverse zoonosis. However, the role of cattle in SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission seems to be negligible.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cattle; farmworkers; reverse zoonosis; serology.