4 June 2024, 17:00 hours; Rome
Situation: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2): A virus that is spreading globally through human-to-human transmission but has also demonstrated ability to infect multiple animal species (from Bovidae, Canidae, Cebidae, Cercopithecidae, Cervidae, Cricetidae, Felidae, Hominidae, Hyaenidae, Mustelidae, Procionidae, Viverridae, Hippopotamidae, Myrmecophagidae, Atelidae, Rhinocerotidae, Suidae, Agamidae, Phasianidae, Anatidea and Castoridae and Muridae families) with spillover potential from one animal species to another. In rare occasions, spill-back from animals to humans has been evidenced (mink-to-human in the Netherlands [reference] and in Denmark [reference]; hamster-to-human in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China) [reference]).
Reported human cases: As of 19 May 2024, there have been 775 522 404 confirmed cases of COVID-19 including 7 049 617 deaths reported to WHO. In the last seven days, 36 014 new human cases and 321 deaths were reported worldwide. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, 232countries, states, and territories reported COVID-19 human cases across five geographic regions including Africa (57), the Americas (55), Asia (46), Europe (50), and Oceania (24) [reference]. Cumulative COVID-19 cases reported in humans globally are presented in Map 1. For detailed information on human cases, please refer to WHO COVID-19 Dashboard and WHO COVID-19 Weekly Updates.
Countries and territories with reported findings in animals (virological findings)1: France, Switzerland, Hong Kong SAR (China), Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Russia, United States of America, Denmark, Japan, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Chile, Canada, Brazil, Sweden, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Greece, Argentina, Lithuania, Mexico, Slovenia, Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Croatia, Thailand, Uruguay, Myanmar, Indonesia, Singapore, Colombia, Finland, India, Ecuador, Egypt, Viet Nam, Senegal, Nigeria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Mongolia and Peru.
1 in order of first reported occurrence.
Map 1 shows SARS-CoV-2 events2 in animals up to 4 June 2024 at the national level over an estimated cumulative COVID-19 human cases distribution map. Circles indicate countries reporting positive events in animals; circle size is proportional to the number of events reported in each country (see legend). The background layer map includes cumulative number of COVID-19 human cases according to WHO, 2022.
2 Events include animal cases officially reported by national authorities and the WOAH, or positive findings referred to in scientific publications.
Map. Results of published SARS-CoV-2 events in animals up to 4 June 2024 at national level, over a cumulative COVID-19 human cases background map
Table 1. Animal species naturally infected (RNA detection) by SARS-CoV-2
Animal species | Scientific name | Country/Territory | Site | Year reported & number of epidemiological units affected (individual animal cases or production or marketing units such as farms or markets) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Domestic cat |
Felis catus |
Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR., Hungary, Iran, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay |
Household |
2020 (75) |
Domestic Dog |
Canis lupus familiaris |
Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Hong Kong SAR, India, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay |
Household |
2020 (76) |
Domestic American Mink |
Neovison vison |
Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherland, Poland, Spain, Sweden |
Farm |
2020 (349) |
Domestic Ferret |
Mustela furo |
Slovenia, United States of America |
Household |
2020 (1) |
Wild American Mink |
Neovison vison |
Spain, United States of America |
Free range |
2020 (no data) |
Western lowland Gorilla |
Gorilla gorilla gorilla |
the Netherlands, Spain, United States of America |
Zoo |
2021 (10) |
White-tailed deer |
Odocoileus virginianus |
Canada, United States of America |
Natural Park |
2021 (350) |
Binturong |
Arctictis binturong |
United States of America |
Zoo |
2021 (1) |
Coatimundi |
Nasua nasua |
Brazil, United States of America |
Zoo |
2021 (3) |
Fishing cat |
Prionailurus viverrinus |
United States of America |
Zoo |
2021 (1) |
Tiger |
Panthera tigris |
Argentina, Denmark, Indonesia |
Animal sanctuary |
2020 (1) |
Lion |
Panthera leo |
Croatia, Colombia, Estonia, Japan, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United States of America |
Zoo |
2020 (2) |
Puma |
Puma concolor |
Argentina, South Africa, United States of America |
Wild animal exhibitor facility |
2020 (2) |
Snow Leopard |
Panthera uncia |
United States of America |
Zoo |
2020 (3) |
Indian Leopard |
Panthera pardus fusca |
India |
Free range |
2021 (1) |
Canada Lynx |
Lynx canadensis |
United States of America |
Zoo |
2021 (1) |
Spotted hyenas |
Crocuta crocuta |
United States of America |
Zoo |
2021 (2) |
Asian small-clawed otters |
Aonyx cinereus |
United States of America |
Aquarium |
2021 (9) |
Hamster |
Unspecified |
Hong Kong, SAR |
Pet shop |
2022 (2) |
Wild Eurasian River Otter |
Lutra lutra |
Spain |
Free range |
2021 (1) |
Hippopotamus |
Hippopotamus amphibius |
Belgium, Viet Nam |
Zoo |
2021 (1) |
Black-Tailed Marmoset |
Mico melanurus |
Brazil |
Free range |
2022 (1) |
Mule deer |
Odocoileus hemionus |
United States of America |
Natural Park |
2022 (1) |
Antillean manatees |
Trichechus manatus manatus |
Brazil |
Captive |
2020 (2) |
Giant anteater |
Myrmecophaga tridactyla |
Brazil |
Free range |
2022 (1) |
Mandrill |
Mandrillus sphinx |
United States of America |
Zoo |
2022 (1) |
Monkey Squirrel |
Saimiri sciureus |
United States of America |
Zoo |
2022 (1) |
Red fox |
Vulpes vulpes |
Switzerland |
Zoo |
2022 (1) |
Cattle |
Unspecified |
India, Nigeria, Republic of Korea |
Animal-rearing pockets |
2021/2022 (32) |
Buffalo |
Unspecified |
India |
Animal-rearing pockets |
2021/2022 (13) |
Goat |
Unspecified |
Nigeria |
Unspecified |
2021/2022 (46) |
Black-and brown headed Spider Monkey |
Ateles fusciceps |
Ecuador |
Captive |
2022 (20) |
Common woolly monkey | Lagothrix lagothricha | Ecuador | Captive | 2022 (1) |
White rhinoceros |
Ceratotherium simum |
Senegal |
Natural reserve |
2023 (1) |
Ducka |
Unspecified |
Nigeria |
Households and backyard farms |
2021/2022 (2) |
Chickena |
Unspecified |
Nigeria |
Households and backyard farms |
2021/2022 (10) |
Turkeya |
Unspecified |
Nigeria |
Households and backyard farms |
2021/2022 (1) |
Sheep |
Unspecified |
Nigeria |
Households and backyard farms |
2021/2022 (50) |
Pig |
Unspecified |
Nigeria |
Households and backyard farms |
2021/2022 (4) |
Lizard |
Agama agama |
Nigeria |
Households and backyard farms |
2021/2022 (19) |
Eurasian beaver |
Castor fiber |
Mongolia |
Farm |
2021 (1) |
White-fronted capuchin |
Cebus unicolor |
Peru |
Captive |
2022/2023 (9)b |
House mouse |
Mus musculus |
Mexico |
Urban |
2020 (4) |
Brown rat |
Rattus norvegicus |
Mexico |
Urban |
2020 (3) |
Source: WOAH WAHIS, country reports and peer-reviewed journals3. Please see the respective articles under section “recent publications”.
3 Information from preprints is not included in this table.
a These are the first reports of viral RNA being detected in avian species though published experimental challenge studies have not indicated host susceptibility.
b Pool of nine samples.
Table 2. Animal species susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 based on experimental infection studies
Animal species | Scientific name (wild animals) | Susceptibility | Transmission to co-housed animals of same species |
---|---|---|---|
Raccoon dogs (reference) |
Nyctereutes procyonoides |
Yes |
Yes |
Red Fox (reference) |
Vulpes vulpes |
Yes |
Not specified |
Coyotes |
Canis latrans |
No |
- |
Deer mice (reference) |
Peromyscus maniculatus |
Yes |
Yes |
Bank voles (reference) |
Myodes glareolus |
Yes |
No |
Bushy-tailed woodrats (reference) |
Neotoma cinerea |
Yes |
Not specified |
Laboratory BALB/c mice (reference) |
|
Yes |
Yes |
White-tailed deer (reference) |
Odocoileus virginianus |
Yes |
Yes |
Ferret (reference) |
Mustela furo |
Yes |
Yes |
Egyptian fruit bat |
Rousettus aegyptiacus |
Yes |
Yes |
Striped skunks (reference) |
Mephitis mephitis |
Yes |
Not specified |
Zebra fish (reference) |
Danio rerio |
Yes |
Not specified |
Zebra mussel (reference1) (reference2) |
Dreissena polymorpha |
Yes |
Not specified |
Syrian hamsters |
Mesocricetus auratus |
Yes |
Yes |
Tree shrews (reference1) (reference2) |
Tupaia belangeri chinensis |
Yes |
Not specified |
Rhesus macaques (reference) |
Macaca mulatta |
Yes |
Not specified |
The crab-eating macaque (reference) |
Macaca fascicularis |
Yes |
Not specified |
Baboons (reference) |
Papio hamadryas |
Yes |
Not specified |
Common marmosets (reference) |
Callithrix jacchus |
Yes |
Not specified |
Cynomolgus macaques (reference) |
Macaca fascicularis |
Yes |
Not specified |
African green monkeys (reference) |
Chlorocebus aethiops |
Not susceptible |
Not specified |
Mosquitoes (reference1) (reference2) |
Aedes aegypti, Aedes. albopictus, Culex tarsalis and Culex quinquefasciatus |
Not susceptible |
- |
Midge (reference) |
Culicoides sonorensis |
Not susceptible |
- |
Chicken – Duck – Geese – Turkey – Quail and Pigeon (reference) |
- |
Not susceptible |
- |
Pig (reference1) (reference2) (reference3) |
- |
Yes (Low susceptibility) |
No |
Cattle (reference1) (reference2) (reference3) |
- |
Yes (Low susceptibility) |
No |
Horse (reference) |
- |
No |
- |
Sheep (reference) |
- |
Yes (Low susceptibility) |
No1 |
Goat (reference1) (reference2) |
- |
Yes (Low susceptibility) |
Not specified |
Alpaca (reference) |
- |
No |
- |
Rabbit (reference) |
- |
Yes |
Not specified |
Cat (reference) | - | Yes | Yes |
Dog (reference) |
- |
Yes (Low susceptibility) |
No |
Sprague Dawley rats (reference) |
Rattus norvegicus |
Yes |
Not specified |
Elk (reference1) (reference2) |
Cervus canadensis |
Yes (ancestral virus) |
No |
Mule deer (reference) |
Odocoileus hemionus |
Yes |
Yes |
Mexican free-tailed bats (reference) |
Tadarida brasiliensis |
Yes |
No |
1 Though RNA detected in some in-contact animals but none of them seroconverted.
Agusi, E. R., Schön, J., Allendorf, V., Eze, E. A., Asala, O., [...], & Meseko, C. A. (2024). SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive antibodies in domestic animals and wildlife in Nigeria suggest circulation of sarbecoviruses. One Health, 100709. [reference]. This study detected antibodies against SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in sera collected from dogs, rabbits and Pangolins using ELISA, a subset of ELISA positive sera confirmed by to be positive by virus neutralization test or indirect immunofluorescence assays
Boggiatto, P. M., Buckley, A., Cassmann, E. D., Seger, H., Olsen, S. C., & Palmer, M. V. (2024). Persistence of viral RNA in North American elk experimentally infected with an ancestral strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Scientific Reports, 14(1). [reference]. This experimental infection study demonstrated that elk do not develop clinical signs of disease following inoculation with SARS-CoV-2, but they do develop a neutralizing antibody response. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in the medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes of infected elk three weeks after experimental infection.
Carvajal, M., Saenz, C., Fuentes, N., Guevara, R., Muñoz, E., Prado-Vivar, B., [...], & Barragan, V. (2024). SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South America. Microbiology Spectrum, 12(4). [reference]. This study reports SARS-CoV-2 infection of four sick brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center in Ecuador after exposure to COVID-19 workers.
Lee, L. K. F., Himsworth, C. G., Prystajecky, N., Dibernardo, A., Lindsay, L. R., Albers, T. M., Dhawan, R., Henderson, K., Mulder, G., Atwal, H. K., Beattie, I., Wobeser, B. K., Parsons, M. H., & Byers, K. A. (2024). SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance of Wild Mice and Rats in North American Cities. Ecohealth, Volume 21, 1–8. [reference]. Two brown rats and 11 house mice were positive for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies using a surrogate virus neutralization test, but negative or indeterminate with the Multiplexed Fluorometric ImmunoAssay COVID-Plex. Oro-nasopharyngeal swabs and fecal samples tested negative by RT-qPCR, with an indeterminate fecal sample in one house mouse.
Martínez-Hernández, F., Gonzalez-Arenas, N. R., Cervantes, J. a. O., Villalobos, G., Olivo-Diaz, A., Rendon-Franco, E., Maravilla, P., Valdovinos, M. R., & Muñoz-Garcia, C. I. (2024). Identification of SARS-CoV-2 in urban rodents from Southern Mexico City at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 66. [reference]. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in intestinal samples of Four mice (12.1%) and three rats (5.8%) trapped along a water channel of a public park as part of a pest control program in Mexico, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the fall and winter of 2020.
Sandoval-Ramírez, C. M., Ballesteros, N., Pinilla, J. C., Hernández, C., Muñoz, M., & Ramírez, J. D. (2024). SARS-CoV-2 Mu variant in dogs visiting veterinary clinics during the third pandemic peak in Eastern Colombia. Veterinary Research Communications, Online ahead of print. [reference]. This study detected infection of domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) with the Mu variant of SARS-CoV-2, the variant with the most death burden during the whole pandemic in Colombia. The infected dogs presented mild and reversible respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, or no clinical manifestations at all.
Tan, C. S., Adrus, M., Rahman, S. P. H., Azman, H. I. M., & Abang, R. a. A. (2024). Seroevidence of SARS-CoV-2 spillback to rodents in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. BMC Veterinary Research, 20(1). [reference]. This retrospective study tested 208 archived plasma from rodents in Malaysia collected between from 2018 to 2022 to detect neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using a surrogate virus neutralisation test, and detected two seropositive rodents (Sundamys muelleri and Rattus rattus), which were sampled in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Global level
Regional and national level
Within FAO’s COVID-19 Recovery and Response Programme, several projects are already in place as part of Preventing the Next Zoonotic Pandemic (PNP), that help countries to better prevent and mitigate risks related to SARS-CoV-2 at the animal-human interface and build national capacities in pandemic preparedness (see below for details).
Regional level
Through these projects and others, FAO is supporting countries in West and Central Africa since the beginning of the pandemic in mitigating negative impacts of COVID-19 by:
National level
Information provided herein is current as of the date of issue. Information added or changed since the last SARS-COV-2 animal situation update appears in orange. Human cases are depicted in the geographic location of their report. For some cases, exposure may have occurred in one geographic location but reported in another. For cases with unknown onset date, reporting date was used instead. FAO compiles information drawn from multiple national (Ministries of Agriculture or Livestock, Ministries of Health; Centers for Disease Prevention and Control [CDC]) and international sources (World Health Organization [WHO], World Organisation for Animal Health [WOAH]) as well as peer-reviewed scientific articles and preprints. FAO makes every effort to ensure, but does not guarantee, accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on these map(s) do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. Dashed lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement.
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