Detection of SARS–CoV–2 antibodies in dogs in contact with COVID–19 positive humans

• Roberto Danilo Chiliquinga-Quinchiguano Universidad Católica de Cuenca. Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
• Nathalie Campos-Murillo Universidad Católica de Cuenca. Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador
• Edy Castillo-Hidalgo Universidad Católica de Cuenca. Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5311-5002

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-e32178

Keywords: SARS–CoV–2, immunoglobulins, IgG, IgM, canines

Abstract

The objective of this study was to detect the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies for SARS–CoV–2 in pets that had contact with COVID–19 positive humans from the Parish of Alangasí belonging to the City of Quito, Ecuador, during the first half of 2022. To do this, 40 canine patients of different ages and sex were studied, who came to medical appointments at the RoChi-Vet veterinary center, to which the respective clinical history was made. For the study of Immunoglobulins and other liver analytes (TGP and TGO), blood samples were obtained by puncture of the cephalic vein, in tubes with EDTA content, which were sent to SERVILAB laboratories to determine the presence of Immunoglobulins (Ig), using the immunofluorescence method, in addition to determining the integrity of the liver through a spectrophotometer. The data obtained from Ig, TGP and TGO were compared with the patient’s clinical history, and the possible effects between the variables studied using SAS statistical package, it was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and correlations. The results obtained showed that for the values of IgG and IgM antibodies, at least 2 of the serums tested positive for SARS–CoV–2, with a prevalence in this study of 5%; and additionally, the values of TGP and TGO were not indicative of any pathology in the liver’s integrity, although one individual was found with a slightly high TGP value and four with values slightly lower than normal for the same transaminase. The ANAVA indicated the absence of effect (P>0.05) of age or sex on the probability of suffering or not from SARS–CoV–2; as well as the non-existence of correlation between the values of Ig and the transaminases evaluated. Finally, it can be indicated that although it is a sensitive tool for the diagnosis of SARS–CoV–2 in dogs; there is no evidence that there is a probability of transmission and contagion from the human being (owner) to their pets and much less in the form of reverse zoonotic contagion.

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