Abstract
This article presents the results of an epidemiological analysis of the data of modern, mainly foreign, available information on the occurrence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 among various animal species. We used official data from the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection and official data from the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). An analysis of available information published by foreign and domestic scientists on cases of the disease and positive results of studies for COVID-19 among animals was also carried out. SARS-CoV-2 was the biggest global public health disaster since the 1918 influenza pandemic known as the "Spanish flu", creating an unprecedented threat to all of humanity, causing colossal damage to the global economy. Over the past two decades, coronavirus outbreaks have caused concern around the world, including cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) reported in China in 2003. And the outbreak in 2012 with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Coronaviruses such as MERS-CoV and SARS, along with Ebola and influenza, are on the lists of infections with pandemic potential. Coronaviruses cause a wide variety of diseases in animals, and their ability to cause severe illness in livestock such as pigs, cows, chickens, dogs, and cats led to significant research on these viruses in the last half of the twentieth century. A wide range of mammalian species have demonstrated susceptibility through experimental contamination and in vivo through close contact with infected humans and other infected animals. But there have been cases in which people can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to animals, especially during close contact. Such cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals have been documented around the world. Most of these animals became infected after coming into contact with people with COVID-19, including owners, caretakers, or others who were in close contact.
Publisher
National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine