20 April 2020
COVID-19 and animals
Experimental studies Published 20 April 2020 | Updated 13 May 2025 Experimental studies into the infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by animals are at a very early stage, with information being released rapidly and, in some cases, before peer review has been completed. The preliminary results of these studies appear to indicate that some domestic animals can be experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2 and may transmit the virus to other animals, of the same species, under experimental conditions. However, it is important to remember that these are small scale preliminary studies and not to over-interpret the results or extrapolate from the experimental situation to companion animals kept as pets. It is therefore important to interpret the findings of these experimental studies with caution. Diagnostic testing Published 1 February 2022 | Updated 13 May 2025 Vaccination Published 17 May 2022 | Updated 18 July 2022 Simulation of the clinical and pathological manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in golden Syrian hamster model: implications for disease pathogenesis and transmissibility Published 27 April 2020 Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and different domestic animals to SARS-coronavirus-2 Published 20 April 2020 | updated 25 November 2020 Covid-19: Experimental infection of fruit bats, ferrets, pigs and chicken with SARS CoV-2 Published 20 April 2020 | updated 25 November 2020Dogs
- Kim, D-H. et al. (2023) Neurologic effects of SARS-CoV-2 transmitted among dogs. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 29 (11), pp. 2275-2284. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2911.230804
- Susceptibility of raccoon dogs for experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection Published 22 March 2021
Cats
- Lean, F.Z.X. et al. (2022) Elevated angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Research in Veterinary Science, 152, pp. 564-568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.09.024
- Protective immunity and persistent lung sequelae in domestic cats after SARS-CoV-2 Infection Published 22 March 2021
- Experimental infection of domestic dogs and cats with SARS-CoV-2: pathogenesis, transmission, and response to reexposure in cats Published 25 November 2020
- Pathogenesis, transmission and response to re-exposure of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats Published 9 June 2020 | Updated 14 June 2021
- Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats Published 18 May 2020
Exotics
- Clancy, C.S. et al. (2023) Histopathologic characterization of Experimental Peracute SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Syrian Hamster. Veterinary Sciences, 10 (9), no. 536. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10090536
Ferrets/Minks Updated 20 September 2024
- Barroso-Arevalo, S. et al. (2024) Comparative SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 variant and D614G-Wuhan strain infections in ferrets: insights into attenuation and disease progression during subclinical to mild COVID-19. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1435464
- Virtanen, J. et al. (2022) Experimental infection of Mink with SARS-COV-2 Omicron variant and subsequent clinical disease. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 28 (6), pp. 1286-1288. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2806.220328
- SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are transmitted through the air between ferrets over more than one meter distance Published 25 November 2020
- SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via contact and via the air between ferrets
- Published 27 April 2020
- Infection and rapid transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in ferrets Published 20 April 2020
Farm animals
- Ellis, J. et al. (2023) SARS coronavirus 2-reactive antibodies in bovine colostrum. Canadian Veterinary Journal, 64 (4), pp. 337-343
- Rooney, T. A. et al. (2023) Subcutaneous and intramuscular administration of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine are similarly effective in generating a humoral response in domestic goats (Capra hircus). American Journal of Veterinary Research. https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.23.05.0117
- Experimental infection of cattle with SARS-CoV-2 Published 25 November 2020 | Updated 14 June 2021
- Susceptibility of domestic swine to experimental infection with SARS-CoV-2 Published 25 November 2020 | Updated 14 June 2021
Horses
- Legere, R. M. et al. (2023) Equine bronchial epithelial cells are susceptible to cell entry with a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus but reveal low replication efficiency. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 84 (9). https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.23.06.0132
Wildlife and zoo
- Ferreira, F.C. et. al. (2025) Respiratory shedding of infectious SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB.1.41.1 lineage among captive white-tailed deer, Texas, USA. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 31 (2), pp. 267–274. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3102.241458
- Porter, S.M. et al. (2024) Experimental SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Elk and Mule Deer. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 30 (2), pp. 354-357. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3002.231093
- Musoles-Cuenca, B. et al. (2024) Molecular and serological studies on potential SARS-CoV-2 infection among 43 lemurs under hman care—evidence for past infection in at least one individual. Animals. 14(1), no. 140. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010140
- Oh, T., Hong, J.J. and Park, J.-H. (2024) Histopathological pulmonary lesions in rhesus (Macaca mulatta) and cynomolgus (Macaca fascicularis) macaques experimentally infected with wild-type severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 208, pp. 5-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpa.2023.10.008
- Porter, S.M. et al. (2022) Susceptibility of wild canids to SARS-CoV-2. Emerging Infectious Disease, 28 (9), pp. 1852-1855. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2809.220223.
- Susceptibility of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to SARS-CoV-2 Published 16 June 2021