Effect of COVID-19 on Livestock

A recent study found that the SARS CoV 2 did not affect many of the livestock animals including dogs, chicken, ducks, etc.

Animals Affected by SARS CoV 2

The study identified that the virus could infect cats and ferrets. The younger cats were more susceptible to the virus. This explains the reason why the Bronx Zoo tigers were affected. Ferrets, a domesticated species of European polecat, are permissive to the infection and it is being studied as a potential animal model for testing vaccines.

Animals that aren’t Affected by COVID-19

The study found that most of the livestock species are not susceptible to the SARS CoV 2 virus. Dogs, pigs, chicken and ducks were found to have low susceptibility to the virus. These animals had also shown resilience against SARS virus during the 2003 outbreak.

Anthroponosis

Anthroponosis or reverse zoonosis is an infectious disease that is transmitted from humans to other animal species. The resulting disease in animals is not necessarily the same as in humans. Animals like primates, monkeys, elephants, etc. have been known to contract diseases from humans. Eg: leishmaniasis, pneumonia, measles, tuberculosis, influenza, etc.