{"id":7788,"date":"2020-04-22T13:26:19","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T20:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/?p=7788"},"modified":"2022-06-15T17:46:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-15T17:46:13","slug":"cats-test-positive-for-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navc.sitepreview.app\/todaysveterinarybusiness.com\/cats-test-positive-for-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Two N.Y. Cats Test Positive for Novel Coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two cats living in New York State are the first U.S. pets to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, federal authorities announced April 22.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Agriculture advised that routine testing of pets is not recommended. The two cats displayed mild respiratory illnesses and are expected to recover.<\/p>\n

No one in the first cat\u2019s household was confirmed to have COVID-19, but the CDC theorized that the virus could have been transmitted \u201cby mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected person outside its home.\u201d The owner of the second cat tested positive for COVID-19 and another cat in the home showed no signs of illness, the CDC stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth cats tested presumptive positive for SARS-CoV-2 at a private veterinary laboratory, which then reported the results to state and federal officials,\u201d the CDC stated. \u201cThe confirmatory testing was conducted at [the National Veterinary Services Laboratory] and included collection of additional samples.\u201d<\/p>\n

The CDC did not identify the private laboratory.<\/p>\n

Maine-based Idexx Laboratories Inc. on April 20 launched the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RealPCR Test<\/a> for pets and recommended its use only in certain cases. Specimens collected by a veterinarian are sent to Idexx\u2019s Molecular Diagnostics (PCR) Laboratory in Sacramento, California, for processing.<\/p>\n

The American Veterinary Medical Association, in a statement<\/a> posted after the CDC announcement, said it had \u201cno information that suggests that pets might be a source of infection for people with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo date globally, the only pets incidentally exposed to COVID-19 that have tested positive, with confirmation, for SARS-CoV-2 are two pet dogs and a pet cat in Hong Kong, and two pet cats in the United States,\u201d the AVMA stated.<\/p>\n

The CDC issued precautionary recommendations to pet owners \u201cuntil we know more.\u201d They include:<\/p>\n