Thursday, March 02, 2023

Covid-19 transmissible between dogs: Study
Reverse zoonosis refers to an infection or disease that is transmissible from humans to animals. 
ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

SEOUL - A South Korean research team has confirmed on Wednesday that some Covid-19 variants, including Delta and Omicron, can be transmitted between dogs.

Although there have been many reports on the transmission of the coronavirus from humans to dogs, this is the first study that proves transmission of the virus among dogs.

The study, done by a joint research team, is led by Professor Song Dae-sub of Seoul National University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and researcher Yoo Kwang-soo of Jeonbuk National University.

The research team infected a beagle with the Delta and Omicron variants by introducing the virus through the dog’s nose. After 24 hours, they put an uninfected dog in the same cage.

Researchers did not detect any visible symptoms in the infected and uninfected dog, after observing them for seven days.

They only detected symptoms of viral pneumonia, a common symptom of Covid-19, when they analysed the tissue of the dogs’ lungs.

The team also found that proliferative viruses can be spread through dogs’ nasal discharge

The study suggested that human coronaviruses such as Covid-19 and Mers can be transmitted to other species.

The research team suggested that pet vaccinations should be actively considered to prevent animal-to-human infection and the emergence of another variant from pets.

“If infection between species and individuals is repeated, the possibility of another variant increases,” said Prof Song.

“It is time to consider the use of animal vaccines to prevent the reverse zoonosis of pets.”

Reverse zoonosis refers to an infection or disease that is transmissible from humans to animals.

The study was funded by the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the paper was published in Emerging Infected Disorders, a medical journal published by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States. 



THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK




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