Following the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy), we tested lactating cows for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on a cattle farm at which, prior to the investigation, 13 of the 20 farmworkers showed COVID-19-like symptoms, and one of them died. Twenty-four lactating cows were sampled to detect SARS-CoV-2. All nasal and rectal swabs and milk samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Of the 24 collected serum samples, 11 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, 14 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and 13 developed neutralising antibodies for SARS-COV-2; all samples were negative for Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV), another betacoronavirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of natural serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in lactating cows. We hypothesise that this may be a case of reverse zoonosis. However, the role of cattle in SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission seems to be negligible.

First Description of Serological Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 in Lactating Cows / Fiorito, Filomena; Iovane, Valentina; Pagnini, Ugo; Cerracchio, Claudia; Brandi, Sergio; Levante, Martina; Marati, Luisa; Ferrara, Gianmarco; Tammaro, Virginio; De Carlo, Esterina; Iovane, Giuseppe; Fusco, Giovanna. - In: ANIMALS. - ISSN 2076-2615. - 12:11(2022), pp. 1459-1467. [10.3390/ani12111459]

First Description of Serological Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 in Lactating Cows

Fiorito, Filomena
Primo
Investigation
;
Iovane, Valentina
Secondo
Methodology
;
Pagnini, Ugo
Conceptualization
;
Cerracchio, Claudia
Methodology
;
Ferrara, Gianmarco
Methodology
;
De Carlo, Esterina
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Iovane, Giuseppe
Penultimo
Conceptualization
;
2022

Abstract

Following the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak in Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy), we tested lactating cows for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on a cattle farm at which, prior to the investigation, 13 of the 20 farmworkers showed COVID-19-like symptoms, and one of them died. Twenty-four lactating cows were sampled to detect SARS-CoV-2. All nasal and rectal swabs and milk samples were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Of the 24 collected serum samples, 11 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, 14 showed antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and 13 developed neutralising antibodies for SARS-COV-2; all samples were negative for Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV), another betacoronavirus. To our knowledge, this is the first report of natural serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in lactating cows. We hypothesise that this may be a case of reverse zoonosis. However, the role of cattle in SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission seems to be negligible.
2022
First Description of Serological Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 in Lactating Cows / Fiorito, Filomena; Iovane, Valentina; Pagnini, Ugo; Cerracchio, Claudia; Brandi, Sergio; Levante, Martina; Marati, Luisa; Ferrara, Gianmarco; Tammaro, Virginio; De Carlo, Esterina; Iovane, Giuseppe; Fusco, Giovanna. - In: ANIMALS. - ISSN 2076-2615. - 12:11(2022), pp. 1459-1467. [10.3390/ani12111459]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/890333
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