Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) causes the infectious disease COVID-19. SARSCoV-2 is thought to have originated in bats; however, the intermediate animal sources of the virus are completely unknown. Bu Zhigao’s team investigated the susceptibility of ferrets and animals in close contact with humans to SARS-CoV-2. They found that SARS-CoV-2 replicates poorly in dogs, pigs, chickens, and ducks, but efciently in ferrets and cats, and the virus transmits in cats via the airborne route. This study provides important insights into the establishment of SARS-CoV-2 animal models and animal management for COVID-19 control.

The susceptibility of diferent animals to SARS-CoV-2