Is Your Pet Healthy Enough?
A recent study found that pet health is on the decline in the U.S., and what’s even more concerning, is that your dog or cat’s health could impact your own. Dr. Manny sits down with veterinarian and author Dr. Karen Halligan to find out what you can do to keep your four-legged friend in tip-top shape
Transmission of COVID-19 from a pet owner to pet has been documented genetically for the first time in the United States, according to a study published in One Health by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope.
Researchers involved with the Arizona case study found a pet parent and two pets all were infected with the identical strain of coronavirus known as B.1.575, an early version of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the authors said in a news release.
This study is one of five nationwide pilot studies investigating COVID infections in animals. The release stated the study is the only one using whole genomic sequence, a laboratory method that looks at genetic makeup, of the virus from samples of humans and pets.
“This is the first report of the B.1.575 lineage in companion animals. Genetically linking SARS-CoV-2 between people and animals, and tracking changes in SARS-CoV-2 genomes is essential to detect any cross-species SARS-CoV-2 transmission that may lead to more transmissible or severe variants that can affect humans”, the authors wrote.
Genetic samples were collected from swabs of a cat and dog and their owner. The genetic makeup of the virus detected were found to match identically, suggesting zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from human to at least one pet, according to the report. The study authors said both animals were asymptomatic but were in close contact to the symptomatic pet owner who tested positive for COVID -19.
FILE- In this April 1, 2017, file photo, a service dog named Orlando rests on the foot of its trainer, John Reddan, of Warwick, N.Y., while sitting inside a United Airlines plane at Newark Liberty International Airport during a training exercise in Newark, N.J. American Airlines is banning emotional-support animals in a move that will force most owners to pay extra if they want their pets to travel with them. The airline said Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, that it will allow animals in the cabin free of charge only if they are trained service dogs. The change takes effect Monday, although passengers who already …….
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/genetic-virus-test-suggests-covid-19-transmission-household-pets