key: cord-0916362-w9vba9nn authors: Ali, Muhammad; Zaid, Muhammad; Saqib, Muhammad Arif Nadeem; Ahmed, Haroon; Afzal, Muhammad Sohail title: SARS‐CoV‐2 and the Hidden Carriers – Sewage, Feline, and Blood Transfusion date: 2020-04-28 journal: J Med Virol DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25956 sha: e6b346578884fafc39bf718c0a9d0b2650069afc doc_id: 916362 cord_uid: w9vba9nn We have read with great interests a recent article showing SARS‐CoV‐2 viral RNA in feces of children during their recovery period from the disease.(1) The study showed that even though no viral nucleic acid was detected in the throat swab specimens, the virus was identified in their feces samples. More recently, Li et al(2) and Liu et al.(3) detected the virus nucleic acid in the feces and sputum of discharged patients of the disease following quarantine protocol in their homes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. We have read with great interests a recent article showing SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in feces of children during their recovery period from the disease. 1 The study showed that even though no viral nucleic acid was detected in the throat swab specimens, the Vigilance on the possibility of fecal-oral transmission or spread through some indirect sources of infection, is necessary. Specifically, the third world countries are at higher risks as fresh waters are usually contaminated with the drainage 7-8 . Additionally, wastewater surveillance is necessary to account for the people who are asymptomatic, with mild symptoms or never been tested. Another, important hidden viral transmission route could be the feline species (for instance, domestic cat). Although remain asymptomatic, feline species, and not the canine (i.e. dog), could carry and transmit SARS-CoV-2. Shi and colleagues, in a nonpeered reviewed study, 9 demonstrated that the viral RNA was detected in few cats kept close with an experimentally inoculated cat, advocating the possibility of animal This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. to animal transmission. However, the route of transmission was unknown, probably could have occurred through contaminated breathed-out droplets, feces, or urine. 10 Future research will unravel the virus status and transmission from the cat to human. More recently, seven tigers and lions at Bronx zoo, USA, caught the disease symptoms, whereas, one Malayan tiger was found positive for the virus, believed to have been acquired from zoo keeper. 11 At this time space, however, the infected people and the general population need to restrict contact with their mammalian pets, cats in specific, in the efforts to control the virus effectively. The next very crucial aspect which needs to be addressed is the blood transfusion. Chang and colleagues 12 timely reviewed the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through blood transfusion. Virus shedding from the respiratory system in the blood plasma or serum is common with coronaviruses. Although sustained evidence of the virus transmission through blood is yet to be established, it worth the following considerations: 1) staff members in blood banks, centers or laboratories should improve biosafety protection, 2) donors' body temperature must be recorded/determined, 3) standard measures for the virus inactivation in blood products be followed, and 4) enquiring physical condition of blood donors and their relatives few days after donation. The difficult but important management strategies, hopefully, may reduce infection rates and restrict the emergent human crisis. Detectable SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in feces of three children during recovery period of COVID-19 pneumonia Positive result of SARS-CoV-2 in faeces and sputum from discharged patient with COVID-19 in Yiwu Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in anal from patients who have recovered from coronavirus disease The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the feces of COVID-19 patients Fecal specimen diagnosis 2019 novel coronavirusinfected pneumonia How sewage could reveal true scale of coronavirus outbreak Prevalence of rotavirus, adenovirus, hepatitis A virus and enterovirus in water samples collected from different region of Peshawar Status of Drinking Water Quality and its contamination in Pakistan Susceptibility of ferrets, cats, dogs, and different domestic animals to SARS-coronavirus-2 Coronavirus can infect cats -dogs, not so much The Guardian. Coronavirus: Bronx zoo tiger tests positive for Covid-19 Coronavirus Disease 2019: Coronaviruses and Blood Safety This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved There is no conflict of interest between authors related to this manuscript.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.