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Detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in companion animals in Poland during the post-pandemic period (2022–2025)

cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-4509-8852
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0001-9874-6895
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-1256-0107
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0003-2220-2730
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid702c3b7e-b378-411f-bc9b-510fe73f43da
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid6fc589c0-a9dd-4835-bb57-7f31154633df
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid0320b45e-cc98-4201-88f2-602b5dfa2a20
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid71dccebf-e765-40b9-87bb-e98ab3b7299c
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
dc.abstract.enBackground Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects many species, including companion animals. Monitoring changes in pet seropositivity rate provides insight into viral circulation at the human–animal interface. This study assessed SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity rate in dogs, cats, and rabbits in Poland between 2022 and 2025, focusing on demographic and time-related factors. Methods A total of 1037 serum samples were collected from dogs (n = 611), cats (n = 385), and rabbits (n = 41) in nine Polish provinces. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected using a multispecies nucleocapsid-based ELISA. Data on sampling year, species, location, age and gender were analysed. Seropositivity rate estimates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the Wilson score method. Associations were tested with Fisher’s exact test, and multivariable logistic regression was applied to assess predictors of seropositivity, including species, year, and age. Results The overall seropositivity rate was 5.1% (53/1037; 95% CI: 3.93–6.62). Species-specific prevalence was 6.75% in cats (26/385; 95% CI: 4.65–9.71) and 4.42% in dogs (27/611; 95% CI: 3.05–6.35), while all rabbit samples were negative (0/41; 95% CI: 0.00-8.60). No significant temporal trend was observed across the study period, although prevalence was higher in 2024–2025 compared with 2022–2023. The proportion of seropositive animals was slightly higher in cats than in dogs (OR = 0.62 for dogs vs. cats, p = 0.096). Age was the strongest predictor: animals aged 4–7 years showed the highest seropositivity rate (7.98%, 19/238; OR = 3.94 compared to 0–3 years, p = 0.004). No significant associations were found with gender or geographic region. Conclusions This study demonstrates that cats and dogs in Poland have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, with seropositivity rate levels consistent with international reports. Cats were more frequently seropositive than dogs, and middle-aged animals had the highest likelihood of exposure, reflecting cumulative contact opportunities during peak human transmission. Rabbits did not show evidence of past infection, suggesting negligible involvement in viral ecology under natural conditions. These findings support the role of pets as sentinels of community transmission and highlight the importance of continued One Health surveillance.
dc.affiliationWydział Medycyny Weterynaryjnej i Nauk o Zwierzętach
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Nauk Przedklinicznych i Chorób Zakaźnych
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Chorób Wewnętrznych i Diagnostyki
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Fizjologii, Biochemii i Biostruktury Zwierząt
dc.contributor.authorTurlewicz-Podbielska, Hanna
dc.contributor.authorCzyżewska-Dors, Ewelina
dc.contributor.authorAdaszek, Łukasz
dc.contributor.authorRuszkowski, Jakub Jędrzej
dc.contributor.authorPomorska-Mól, Małgorzata
dc.date.access2025-01-14
dc.date.accessioned2026-01-14T13:57:21Z
dc.date.available2026-01-14T13:57:21Z
dc.date.copyright2025-12-12
dc.date.issued2026
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.bibliographyil., bibliogr.
dc.description.financepublication_research
dc.description.financecost13724,52
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume22
dc.identifier.doi10.1186/s12917-025-05187-9
dc.identifier.issn1746-6148
dc.identifier.urihttps://sciencerep.up.poznan.pl/handle/item/6815
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-025-05187-9
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationveterinary science
dc.relation.ispartofBMC Veterinary Research
dc.relation.pagesart. 37
dc.rightsCC-BY-NC-ND
dc.sciencecloudnosend
dc.share.typeOPEN_JOURNAL
dc.subject.enSARS-CoV-2
dc.subject.enseropositivity
dc.subject.encats
dc.subject.endogs
dc.subject.enrabbits
dc.subject.enPoland
dc.subject.enantibodies
dc.titleDetection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in companion animals in Poland during the post-pandemic period (2022–2025)
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication
project.funder.nameSybwencja