1 February 2022

Diagnostic testing

spotlight topic:

COVID-19 and animals

Experimental studies Diagnostic testing Published 1 February 2022 | Updated 13 May 2025

Italiya, J. et. al. (2025) Wildlife sentinel: development of multispecies protein A-ELISA for detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in zoo animals as a proof of concept for wildlife surveillance. Journal of Wildlife Diseases. Available from: https://meridian.allenpress.com/jwd/article-abstract/doi/10.7589/JWD-D-24-00028/506134/Wildlife-Sentinel-Development-of-Multispecies
Hewitt, J. et. al. (2025) Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection methods for wild Cervidae. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 241, no. 106522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106522
Liu, Y. et al. (2024) Development of multiplex real-time PCR for simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2, CCoV, and FIPV. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1337690
Thieulent, C.J. et al. (2024) Development and validation of multiplex one-step qPCR/RT-qPCR assays for simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV-2 and pathogens associated with feline respiratory disease complex. PLOS ONE, 19 (3), e0297796. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0297796
Diezma-Diaz, C. et al. (2023) A comparative study of eight serological methods shows that spike protein-based ELISAs are the most accurate tests for serodiagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infections in cats and dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, no. 1121935. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1121935
Ratti, G. et al. (2022) Comparison of diagnostic performances of different serological tests for SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody detection in cats and dogs. Transboundary and Emerging Disease. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.14716
Deng, K. et al. (2022) Second round of an interlaboratory comparison of SARS-CoV2 molecular detection assays used by 45 veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the United States. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 34 (5), pp. 825-834 https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387221115702
Bold, D. et al. Development of an indirect ELISA for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in cats. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, no. 864884. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.864884
Pulido, J. et al (2022) Receptor-binding domain–based immunoassays for serosurveillance differentiate efficiently between SARS-CoV2–exposed and non-exposed farmed mink. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 34 (2), pp 190-198. https://doi.org/10.1177/10406387211057859This paper reports on the development and testing of ELISAs and a duplex protein microarray immunoassay (MI) to detect SARS-CoV2 antibodies specific to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein and to the full-length nucleoprotein (N) in mink sera. The authors concluded that RBD was the optimal antigenic target for sero-surveillance of mink farms.
Hagag, I.T. et al (2021) Impact of animal saliva on the performance of rapid antigen tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2 (wildtype and variants B. 1.1. 7 and B. 1.351). Veterinary Microbiology, 262, p. 109243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109243

This experimental study reports that while saliva from various animal species (bats, ferrets, cats, sheep, goats, and cattle) showed no adverse effects on the rapid antigen tests (RATs) ability to detect SARS Co V 2, the detection of VOCs B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 was in some RATs inferior to non-VOC viruses. Despite this the authors conclude that RATs can be recommended as a point-of-care surveillance tool for SARS-CoV-2 infections in these species. However, the tests should be checked beforehand for their suitability to equally detect VOCs B.1.1.7 and B.1.351