The effect of myo–inositol supplementation on feed physicochemical structure and viral load of dry cat food contaminated with SARS–CoV–2 by simulating sneezing

Abstract

The study was carried to investigate the effect of myo–inositol supplementation on feed physicochemical structure and viral load of dry cat food contaminated with inactive SARS–CoV–2 by simulating sneezing. The most natural infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS–CoV–2) in animals is related to close contact with their owners with COVID–19 which is handling, taking care and feeding them. SARS–CoV–2 can survive on food, fomites and surfaces for extended periods related to environmental conditions. Many natural feed additives and supplements have been a candidate in recent antiviral treatment strategies against COVID–19. In this study, myo–inositol which is permitted in animal nutrition was used at different concentrations (0, 12.5, 25 and 50 mg·100 g-1 cat food) and conditions (22°C at room temperature and 4°C in the refrigerator) to investigate its effects on feed physicochemical structure and viral load of dry cat food contaminated with inactive SARS–CoV–2 by simulating sneezing. For the interactions between myo–inositol, feed structure and viral load, dry matter, moisture, water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), pH and virus gene copy (GC) by RT–qPCR were measured. As only storage temperature affected both WAI and WSI as expected, myo–inostol supplementation dose–dependently decreased gene copy in dry cat food (IC50:366.4–581.5 mg·100 g-1 cat food) at 22°C storage temperature. Virus GC did not correlate with the dry matter, moisture content, pH and WAI after the 30 min contact time (except WSI). In conclusion, myo–inositol as a feed additive might have the potential to control serious viral infections such as COVID–19 for human–animal interactions in a One–Health context.