The news of the novel coronavirus continues to dominate the headlines, with no apparent end to the increase in the number of infections. On April 7, 2020, a state of emergency was declared in seven prefectures, leaving both people and their pets in a state of confusion.
The novel coronavirus, which poses a global threat, also has variants that affect dogs and cats. Did you know that there are various types of coronaviruses?
Coronaviruses can be broadly categorized into:
1. Those that infect mammals
2. Those that infect birds and fish
The current novel coronavirus creating problems worldwide is a type of β-coronavirus, which is similar to the viruses responsible for the SARS and MERS outbreaks a few years ago, both originating from bats. (Although bats can fly, they are mammals, not birds!)
Pet owners are particularly concerned about whether their pets can contract the novel coronavirus. Presently, it is considered that pets cannot be infected by this virus.
The coronaviruses that infect dogs and cats are known as α-coronaviruses, which do not infect humans. In other words, different types of coronaviruses cannot cross species barriers.
However, it is important to note that viruses can occasionally mutate. Recent experiments conducted in China have shown that when high concentrations of the novel coronavirus are artificially introduced to pets, there is a possibility of infection in cats and ferrets. This is an artificially induced scenario using high concentrations of the virus, making it very unlikely in real-world conditions. Even if infection were to occur, cats and ferrets are unlikely to develop symptoms.
Nonetheless, there has been a reported case of a tiger at a zoo in New York contracting the novel coronavirus and displaying symptoms such as coughing. This suggests the potential for future cases of symptomatic infections in coronavirus-positive cats cannot be entirely ruled out.
As research on the novel coronavirus continues, various pieces of information are circulating, making it difficult for many to discern what is true. It is crucial to follow reliable information disseminated by public agencies. In particular, it is recommended to refer to information from the WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) and the veterinary associations of each prefecture.
The document released on March 20 by WSAVA regarding the novel coronavirus and companion animals can be found here.
Various pieces of information are available on the Facebook page of the Tokyo Veterinary Medical Association as well, so please refer to it.
