Page 105 - JSOM Fall 2020

Operational K9s in the COVID-19 World

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Bryant Gray, DO *; Dustin St. George, MD ; Monica Cativo, MD ;
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Ammundeep Tagore, MD, MSHA, MBA ; Navin Ariyaprakai, MD, EMT-P ;
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Lee Palmer, DVM, MS, DACVECC, EMT-T, WEMT, NRP, TP-C 2

ABSTRACT
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- horses, cats, dogs, bats, among others. Rarely do animal-
Cov-2) is hypothesized to have originated from a spillover specific coronaviruses infect humans and spread via human-
event from an animal reservoir. This has raised many ques- to-human transmission causing illness, as seen previously with
tions, with an important one being whether the widely dissem- Middle East respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus (MERS-
inated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is transmissible CoV) and SARS-CoV. Although the true origin remains un-
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to other animal species. SARS-CoV-2 is primarily transmitted clear, it is hypothesized that the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in
person to person. K9-to-human transmission, although theo- people originated from a spillover event from an animal res-
retically possible via fomites, is considered minimal, if at all, ervoir (a bat-borne coronavirus) in China. This hypothesis is
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and there have been no reported cases of K9-to-human trans- based on the close genetic similarity, 96.2% resemblance, of
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mission. Human-to-K9 transmission, although rare, seems the horseshoe bat coronavirus to that of SARS-CoV-2. Even
more likely; however, in only one case has a K9 been suspected though the bat coronavirus was originally identified in the
to have displayed symptoms of COVID-19. Preparation, de- Yunnan province in 2013, SARS-CoV-2 had not been detected
contamination, hand hygiene, and distancing remain the key in humans or animals until 2019. It remains unclear whether
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factors in reducing transmission of the virus. The information an intermediate host played any role in the transmission cy-
presented is applicable to personnel operating within the mil- cle. The ongoing spread of the virus is considered predomi-
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itary conventional and Special Operation Forces as well as ci- nantly human to human and COVID-19 is predominantly a
vilian Tactical Emergency Medical Services communities who human-specific disease.
may have the responsibility of supporting an operational K9.
Nationwide, first responders operating in the prehospital set-
Keywords: canine; transmission; disease; COVID-19; corona- ting sought out measures, including personal protective equip-
virus; pandemic; SARS-CoV-2 ment (PPE), appropriate to maintain their personal safety and
the safety of their families. Operational K9 (OpK9) handlers
supporting governmental and nongovernmental agencies are
included in this prehospital group seeking guidance regarding
Background SARS-CoV-2. Of particular concern to handlers is what role,
In late 2019, an outbreak of unexplained pneumonias first if any, their canine partner may play in the spread of the virus.
started to emerge in people in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. OpK9s support and serve as a force multiplier in various local,
Shortly after, a new strand of coronavirus, known as severe state, and federal operations. In addition to their well-known
acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was roles in narcotic and bomb detection, they serve invaluably
discovered as the cause of these mystery respiratory diseases; during mass gathering events, active shooter situations, terror-
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the disease is now referred to as coronavirus disease 2019 ist events, and natural disasters. The intent of this article is to
(COVID-19). As of May 29, 2020, >5.6 million confirmed address the concerns surrounding human-to-canine transmis-
cases in people have been reported worldwide, with >353,000 sion (reverse zoonosis), canine-to-human transmission (zoo-
deaths. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization notic or fomite), as well as provide suggested precautions to
declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic and a mitigate any potential transmission of the COVID-19 virus
public health emergency of international concern. 1,2 from a contaminated or infected OpK9 to their handler.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses common in humans With SARS-CoV-2 emerging as a novel coronavirus, aspects
and many other species of animals including camels, cattle, of the virus related to transmission patterns, infection severity,
*Correspondence to: Department of Emergency Medicine, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, 201 Lyons Ave, Newark, NJ 07112 or bryant
.gray@LMUnet.edu
1 Drs Gray, St. George, Cativo, Tagore, and Ariyaprakai are emergency medicine physicians and emergency medical services (EMS) and disaster
medicine physicians with the New Jersey EMS Fellowship at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, NJ; and work as tactical physicians
with the New Jersey State Police SWAT Team (TEAMS Unit). Dr Tagore also is associate program director of the New Jersey EMS and Disaster
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Medicine Fellowship. Dr Ariyaprakai also is program director of the New Jersey EMS and Disaster Medicine Fellowship. LTC Palmer is a vet-
erinary clinical officer assigned to the 20th Special Forces Group, Alabama Army National Guard, certified tactical paramedic, and is the lead of
the K9 Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Working Group.
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