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Simple Summary: COVID-19 emerged in China in 2019. It is caused by an until-then unknown coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). Through experimental infections in the search for a suitable animal model and reported infections in pets early in the pandemic, it became clear that several animal species may be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. According to the open access dataset of reported SARS-CoV-2 events in animals, about 119 zoo animals have been reported with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections in zoo animals has relied on the observation of symptoms (cough, nasal discharge), behaviour changes (reduced appetite, lethargy), or death of these captive animals. SARS-CoV-2 infections may therefore remain undetected if animals do not show obvious symptoms. In this study, we investigated the potential circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in zoo mammal species by sampling and screening faecal samples from all the mammals in two zoos in Belgium between September 2020 and July 2021 using molecular biology techniques. This study is the first to our knowledge to conduct active SARS-CoV-2 surveillance for several months in all mammal species in a zoo. We conclude that at the time of our investigation, none of the screened animals were excreting SARS-CoV-2. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to millions of human infections and deaths worldwide. Several other mammal species are also susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, and multiple instances of transmission from humans to pets, farmed mink, wildlife and zoo animals have been recorded. We conducted a systematic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in all mammal species in two zoos in Belgium between September and December 2020 and July 2021, in four sessions, and a targeted surveillance of selected mammal enclosures following SARS-CoV-2 infection in hippopotamuses in December 2021. A total of 1523 faecal samples from 103 mammal species were tested for SARS-CoV-2 via real-time PCR. None of the samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Additional surrogate virus neutralisation tests conducted on 50 routinely collected serum samples from 26 mammal species were all negative. This study is the first to our knowledge to conduct active SARS-CoV-2 surveillance for several months in all mammal species of a zoo. We conclude that at the time of our investigation, none of the screened animals were excreting SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Domestic cats are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. The close contact between humans and cats raises concerns about virus transmission from humans to cats. Thus, this study aims to investigate the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in client-owned cats from Portugal, which is an indicator of exposure to the virus. A total of 176 cats, belonging to 94 households, were sampled, and cat owners answered an online questionnaire. Twenty households reported at least one confirmed human COVID-19 case. Forty cats belonged to COVID-19-positive and 136 to COVID-19-negative households. The percentages of cats exhibiting antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 from COVID-19-positive and -negative households were 5.0% and 0.7%, respectively. The two positive cats from COVID-19-positive households had an indoor lifestyle, and their owners maintained a close and frequent contact with them, even after being diagnosed with COVID-19, pointing towards human-to-cat transmission. The positive cat from the COVID-19-negative household had a mixed indoor/outdoor lifestyle and chronic diseases. Owners of the three positive cats did not notice clinical signs or behavior changes. This study highlights the low risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to cats, even in a context of close and frequent contact. The close contact between humans and domestic cats raises concerns about the potential risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Thus, this study aims to investigate anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in client-owned cats from Portugal and evaluate the infection risk of cats that maintain contact with human COVID-19 cases. A total of 176 cats, belonging to 94 households, were sampled. Cat owners answered an online questionnaire, and cats were screened for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 using a commercial ELISA. Twenty (21.3%) households reported at least one confirmed human COVID-19 case. Forty cats (22.7%) belonged to a COVID-19-positive and 136 (77.3%) to a COVID-19-negative household. The seroprevalences of cats from COVID-19-positive and -negative households were 5.0% (2/40) and 0.7% (1/136). The two SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cats from COVID-19-positive households had an indoor lifestyle, and their owners stated that they maintained a close and frequent contact with them, even after being diagnosed with COVID-19, pointing towards human-to-cat transmission. The SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cat from the COVID-19-negative household had a mixed indoor/outdoor lifestyle and chronic diseases. Owners of the three SARS-CoV-2-seropositive cats did not notice clinical signs or behavior changes. This study highlights the low risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from COVID-19-positive human household members to domestic cats, even in a context of close and frequent human–animal contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]