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Fig. 2 | Virology Journal

Fig. 2

From: COVID-19 pandemic: current knowledge about the role of pets and other animals in disease transmission

Fig. 2

Origin and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 along with the potential role of pets and other animals in disease transmission. This figure illustrates the putative origin of CoVs and disease transmission to humans with a special focus on SARS-CoV-2. Companion animals such as cats and dogs are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 and humans can be a source of infection for them, however, the potential role of pets in disease transmission to humans is unknown. Other animals like hamsters, African green monkeys, rhesus macaques, raccoon dogs, mink, ferret, tiger, and lion are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 too. From these susceptible animals, hamsters, African green monkeys, rhesus macaques, and ferret are the potential animal models. Cats and hamsters from pets and mink and ferrets from other animals have the potential to transmit the virus to their respective partners. Minks can be a source of infection for humans. Given the similarity in expression of cell receptor ACE2, we assumed that it might be possible for the virus to transmit back to people again from other animals too. Hence, the usual precautionary measures should always be there as one part of a disease prevention strategy to prevent animal-animal, human to animal, and animal to human disease transmission

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