Our team launched a study in January 2021 to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats residing in households where at least one person is infected.
How are cats recruited?
A subgroup of eligible people receiving confirmation of COVID-19 infection by public health are will be contacted by our research team. We want to recruit 40 cats over six months old from at least 30 different households in Greater Montreal. We are not currently recruiting subjects through veterinary clinics.
Interested in participating? Click here to find out if your cat is eligible and to register.
What will the results of this study be used for?
This study is exploratory, that is to say that by investigating these questions in a small number of cats, it will allow us to determine whether or not it is relevant to conduct a larger study.
In addition to this, you need to know more about it.
This study will be used to:
Estimate the proportion of cats infected with SARS-CoV-2 in households where at least one person is infected and determine whether these infections in cats are rare or frequent events.
Describe the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats such as the frequency of clinical signs.
Investigate factors that could influence the risk of infection in cats, such as the type of symptoms in the owners, or the frequency of contact.
Compare the genome of the virus detected in cats with that detected in their owners, which will allow us, for example, to explore the presence or absence of mutations in SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
Do you have concerns or questions regarding animals and COVID-19? Refer to the Canadian Government website to know more.
If you have any questions about this study, you can contact
Dre Cécile Aenishaenslin : cecile.aenishaenslin@umontreal.ca
This study is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
