Suspected Human-to-Cat Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea

Ju Hee Yang; Yeonsu Oh; Sung Hyun Moon; Gun Hee Lee; Jae Young Kim; Yeon Kyung Shin; Dongseob Tark; Ho Seong Cho

doi:10.3390/v16071113

Suspected Human-to-Cat Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea

Ju Hee Yang
, Yeonsu Oh
, Sung Hyun Moon
, Gun Hee Lee
, Jae Young Kim
, Yeon Kyung Shin
, Dongseob Tark^*
, Ho Seong Cho^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Jeonbuk National University
Kangwon National University
Tae Neung Animal Hospital
Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

Abstract

This retrospective study reports the isolation and characterization of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a household cat in South Korea. The cat, which was presented with respiratory symptoms, was identified during a retrospective analysis of samples collected between April 2021 and March 2022. Genomic sequencing revealed that the isolated virus belonged to the Omicron variant (BA.1), coinciding with its global emergence in early 2022. This case study provides evidence for the potential of direct human-to-cat transmission of the Omicron variant in South Korea during its period of widespread circulation. Our findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in both human and animal populations to track viral evolution and potential spillover events.

Original language	English
Article number	1113
Journal	Viruses
Volume	16
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/v16071113
State	Published - 2024.07

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

cat
Omicron variant
SARS-CoV-2
spillover

Quacquarelli Symonds(QS) Subject Topics

Medicine
Biological Sciences

Access to Document

10.3390/v16071113

Cite this

@article{c1a090cedf584d9e9a71941062039eee,

title = "Suspected Human-to-Cat Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea",

abstract = "This retrospective study reports the isolation and characterization of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a household cat in South Korea. The cat, which was presented with respiratory symptoms, was identified during a retrospective analysis of samples collected between April 2021 and March 2022. Genomic sequencing revealed that the isolated virus belonged to the Omicron variant (BA.1), coinciding with its global emergence in early 2022. This case study provides evidence for the potential of direct human-to-cat transmission of the Omicron variant in South Korea during its period of widespread circulation. Our findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in both human and animal populations to track viral evolution and potential spillover events.",

keywords = "cat, Omicron variant, SARS-CoV-2, spillover",

author = "Yang, \{Ju Hee\} and Yeonsu Oh and Moon, \{Sung Hyun\} and Lee, \{Gun Hee\} and Kim, \{Jae Young\} and Shin, \{Yeon Kyung\} and Dongseob Tark and Cho, \{Ho Seong\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 by the authors.",

year = "2024",

month = jul,

doi = "10.3390/v16071113",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

journal = "Viruses",

issn = "1999-4915",

number = "7",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Suspected Human-to-Cat Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea

AU - Yang, Ju Hee

AU - Oh, Yeonsu

AU - Moon, Sung Hyun

AU - Lee, Gun Hee

AU - Kim, Jae Young

AU - Shin, Yeon Kyung

AU - Tark, Dongseob

AU - Cho, Ho Seong

PY - 2024/7

Y1 - 2024/7

N2 - This retrospective study reports the isolation and characterization of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a household cat in South Korea. The cat, which was presented with respiratory symptoms, was identified during a retrospective analysis of samples collected between April 2021 and March 2022. Genomic sequencing revealed that the isolated virus belonged to the Omicron variant (BA.1), coinciding with its global emergence in early 2022. This case study provides evidence for the potential of direct human-to-cat transmission of the Omicron variant in South Korea during its period of widespread circulation. Our findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in both human and animal populations to track viral evolution and potential spillover events.

AB - This retrospective study reports the isolation and characterization of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a household cat in South Korea. The cat, which was presented with respiratory symptoms, was identified during a retrospective analysis of samples collected between April 2021 and March 2022. Genomic sequencing revealed that the isolated virus belonged to the Omicron variant (BA.1), coinciding with its global emergence in early 2022. This case study provides evidence for the potential of direct human-to-cat transmission of the Omicron variant in South Korea during its period of widespread circulation. Our findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in both human and animal populations to track viral evolution and potential spillover events.

KW - cat

KW - Omicron variant

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - spillover

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85199922888

U2 - 10.3390/v16071113

DO - 10.3390/v16071113

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39066274

AN - SCOPUS:85199922888

SN - 1999-4915

VL - 16

JO - Viruses

JF - Viruses

IS - 7

M1 - 1113

ER -

Suspected Human-to-Cat Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Quacquarelli Symonds(QS) Subject Topics

Access to Document

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Researcher from Jeonbuk National University Reports Recent Findings in COVID-19 (Suspected Human-to-Cat Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea)

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Suspected Human-to-Cat Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Quacquarelli Symonds(QS) Subject Topics

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Press/Media

Researcher from Jeonbuk National University Reports Recent Findings in COVID-19 (Suspected Human-to-Cat Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea)

Cite this