https://www.patreon.com/posts/we-need-to-talk-91185856
"A disturbing new study by Konkuk University researchers in South Korea this
week found that covid causes brain-blood barrier damage in dogs, as well as
“high potential for a long-lasting COVID-19–like syndrome to develop in
affected dogs.”
The study is on the CDC’s website and will be in the November 2023
Emerging
Infectious Diseases Journal. Its research is specifically about covid’s
contagiousness to and among dogs, and covid’s effects on them — particularly
the striking damage to the brain — at several weeks after initial infection.
From the study:
”We observed substantial brain pathology in SARS-CoV-2–infected dogs,
particularly involving blood–brain barrier damage… Furthermore, we detected
phosphorylated tau, a marker of neurodegenerative disease [and a key
pathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease], indicating a potential link
between SARS-CoV-2–associated small vessel disease and neurodegeneration.
Our findings of degenerative changes in the dog brain during SARS-CoV-2
infection emphasize the potential for transmission to other hosts and
induction of similar signs and symptoms. The dynamic brain changes in dogs
highlight that even asymptomatic individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 may
develop neuropathologic changes in the brain.”
If you’re upset by animal harm I urge you not to read the study itself and
instead read reputable reporting on it (which omits traumatic details; for
transparency, here is the link). Here is CIDRAP reporting:
”Our study provides evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection can damage the brain
as well as the lungs in dogs at early and later stages of infection,
suggesting a high potential for a long-lasting COVID-19–like syndrome to
develop in affected dogs.”
Yet the facts have been present since July 2021: People with COVID Often Infect
Their Pets [
Scientific American]. Now, as the Konkuk University study notes,
“SARS-CoV-2 infection in dogs and cats affects the lungs and leads to
pathologic changes.” Meaning, just like with humans, characterizing a covid
infection in dogs and cats as “mild” is meaningless when it comes to
delayed-onset harms.
Cats are particularly at risk. Over 350,000 British cats caught covid between
April 2020 and February 2022. Yet I’m hard-pressed to find a veterinarian who
will wear a mask. A study in May 2023 found that “Household cats acquired the
same COVID-19 variants as their owners throughout the pandemic.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
