Mini Review Article | Open Access

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, Mersin 10, Turkey
²Diagnostic Laboratory, Animal Hospital, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, Mersin 10, Turkey
³Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Dentistry, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, Mersin 10, Turkey

*Corresponding author: Serkan Sayıner, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Near East University, 99138 Nicosia, North Cyprus, Mersin 10, Turkey

Abstract

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Although the types of coronaviruses seen in animals differ, recent studies have also shown that they are affected by COVID-19, known as SARS-CoV-2. The impact of COVID-19 on animals is a factor that should be followed carefully, especially since different variants appear in humans every day and this disease is transmitted from human to animal. Thanks to vaccination, animals are less affected by different types of coronaviruses. Cats and ferrets are especially affected much more in COVID-19, causing damage to the lungs and other organs. Recently, it has been shown that the use of monoclonal antibodies, especially in the early stages of COVID-19, by people with chronic diseases, positively affects the course of the disease, reduces the frequency of hospitalization and the possibility of falling into intensive care. Sotrovimab is a pan-sarbecovirus monoclonal antibody, and 12-13 studies to date have shown that individuals with chronic disease are less affected when given in the early stages of the disease when the symptoms are mild. We also think that if especially old cats and ferrets are treated with Sotrovimab in the early stages of the disease when they contract COVID-19, it will positively affect the prognosis of the disease.
Keywords: Cats, COVID-19, Ferrets, SARS-CoV-2, Sotrovimab, Vaccination
Abbreviations: OIE: World Organisation for Animal Health, BCoV: Bovine Respiratory Coronavirus, CCov: Canine Coronavirus, FIPV: Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus, TGEV: Transmissible Gastroenteritis Coronavirus, FCoV: Feline Coronavirus

Introduction

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SARS-CoV-2, known as COVID-19, which affects the world in both health and economic fields, affects all animals, mostly cats and ferrets, according to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) data [1-3]. Although the rate of morbidity and mortality in humans is increasing day by day, studies on this subject in animals are limited. However, although different types of coronaviruses occur in animals, protection is provided in animals thanks to vaccination [4, 5].
It has been determined that SARS CoV-2 is transmitted from humans to animals [6, 7]. It has been suggested that especially the lungs and neuronal tissues of animals may be affected and may cause permanent damage [8, 9]. Therefore, there is a need to administer new agents with low side effects and strong efficacy to animals during the disease, together with vaccines. Recent studies have shown that treatments with monoclonal antibodies in humans reduce the frequency of hospitalization [10, 11]. In particular, the emergence of different variants and the consequences of these variants on animals is an important issue that needs to be investigated. Therefore, examining and evaluating the effects of possible therapeutic agents on animals is an undeniable fact in terms of veterinary medicine. The most effective solution is the development of a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 by targeting an evolutionarily conserved epitope that lies outside the rapidly evolving receptor-binding motif [12-14]. This antibody should have a high barrier to resistance and the receptor-binding motif can be combined with targeted antibodies as needed to further raise the barrier against resistance.
Sotrovimab (VIR-7831) is a monoclonal antibody prepared to neutralize sarbecoviruses such as SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 [15, 16]. In vitro studies have shown that it is effective against all variants that have emerged so far. Clinical studies on humans have also shown that it can reduce the frequency of hospitalization of people with chronic diseases [10, 16, 17]. Therefore, in the light of these findings, we think that Sotrovimab may be beneficial for both ferrets and cats.

Animal CoV Infections

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There are different types of coronaviruses on animals, and they also affect domestic, wild and farm animals and cause mortality and morbidity that negatively affect life. There are different types such as the type seen in cattle (BCoV), pigs (TGEV, PDEV), dogs (CCoV), cats (FCoV) [18]. Although gastrointestinal symptoms can be seen in cattle, pigs and dogs, it has been suggested that it can affect almost all organs in cats [feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV)] and ferrets [19, 20]. In this disease, the cytokine storm together with the activation of macrophages adversely affects the lungs as in humans. It is thought that especially old and diseased cats will be more affected [21, 22]. In this context, the importance of agents that modify the immune system is increasing day by day in both humans and animals. Therefore, the necessity of monoclonal antibody treatment with antiviral drug in the first period of the disease is inevitable.
SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted from person to person through the respiratory tract, as well as from person to animal through the ACE-2 and TMPRSS-2 enzymes [23, 24]. It has also been reported in animals in many countries [3, 8]. Especially in experimental studies, it is thought that cats and ferrets may be sensitive to all variants of COVID-19, similar to humans, and may affect all tissues with macrophage activation and cytokine storm [25-27].

COVID-19 and Sotrovimab

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As with viral infections, vaccines are required for eradication of SARS-CoV-2 [28]. Although prophylaxis is provided by vaccination, different approaches are required for the radical treatment of the disease. The importance of monoclonal antibodies has been increasing recently to positively affect the prognosis of the disease and reduce morbidity and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 [29]. It was established that the recently found Sotrovimab not only affects ACE-2, but also the enzymes and proteins that the virus invades, such as TMPRSS-2, CD-147 [15-17]. Thus, Sotrovimab can also inhibit cytokine storm with free oxygen radicals that occur with replication after SARS-CoV-2 invasion. Studies in animals have shown that Sotrovimab neutralizes virus binding [16].
In conclusion, it is thought that the administration of Sotrovimab, which is a monoclonal antibody to be made in the first place where SARS-CoV-2 in animals affects cats and ferrets the most, together with antiviral treatment may positively affect the prognosis of the disease and reduce mortality and morbidity.
Conflict of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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