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ARCHIVED - Spain successfully develops coronavirus vaccine for pets
Researchers in Spain are concerned the virus could mutate in the future to affect animals
Researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) have successfully tested a prototype vaccination against coronavirus on animals, with impressive results. Although Covid transmission from pets to humans isn’t a major concern at the moment, the virus is known to successfully mutate so the study is something of a precaution for the future.
"In our study we show a high efficacy of the vaccine prototype to limit the replication of the virus in cats, which would help control transmission between animals and prevent them from acting as potential sources of infection", explained Sandra Barroso, researcher at the Service of Viral Immunology and Preventive Medicine of the UCM.
During the first phase of the trial, two animals were vaccinated and closely monitored for any reactions to the jab, while samples were also taken to check how many antibodies the cats produced.
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After 35 days, the animals were transferred to a biosafety lab with two other control cats, and infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. Since animal testing is highly controlled in Spain, the felines received daily veterinary care over the next 25 days of the study along with plenty of environmental stimulation, the researchers explained in a press release.
The results were promising: one of the vaccinated cats completely avoided developing Covid while in the other the infection was limited to the upper respiratory tract. Moreover, both animals displayed a strong immune response that helped control the virus, much the same as in vaccinated humans.
“Although the Covid-19 disease is not currently of great relevance in veterinary medicine, the constant appearance of mutations in the virus could lead to the appearance of new variants that do clearly affect animals,” the researchers concluded.
Image: Pixabay
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