loading page

FIRST DESCRIPTION OF SEROLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR SARS-CoV-2 IN CATTLE
  • +9
  • Filomena Fiorito,
  • Valentina Iovane,
  • Ugo Pagnini,
  • Claudia Cerracchio,
  • Sergio Brandi,
  • Martina Levante,
  • Luisa Marati,
  • Gianmarco Ferrara,
  • Virginio Tammaro,
  • Esterina De Carlo,
  • Giuseppe Iovane,
  • Giovanna Fusco
Filomena Fiorito
Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Valentina Iovane
Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Dipartimento di Agraria
Author Profile
Ugo Pagnini
Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali
Author Profile
Claudia Cerracchio
Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali
Author Profile
Sergio Brandi
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno
Author Profile
Martina Levante
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno
Author Profile
Luisa Marati
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno
Author Profile
Gianmarco Ferrara
Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali
Author Profile
Virginio Tammaro
Azienda Sanitaria Locale Avellino
Author Profile
Esterina De Carlo
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno
Author Profile
Giuseppe Iovane
Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Produzioni Animali
Author Profile
Giovanna Fusco
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno
Author Profile

Abstract

Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic peak in Ariano Irpino, Campania region (Italy), we tested cattle for the presence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (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 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 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, 14 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and 13 were positive for SARS-COV-2-neutralising antibodies; 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 cattle. 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.