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Published January 1, 2023 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Development of a safety protocol for training and using SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs: A pilot study

Creators

  • 1. Ankara Univ, Fac Vet Med, Dept Physiol, Ankara, Turkiye
  • 2. Ankara Univ, Fac Vet Med, Dept Microbiol, Ankara, Turkiye
  • 3. Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Teaching & Res Hosp, Clin Infect Dis & Microbiol, Ankara, Turkiye
  • 4. Ankara Canine Coll, Ankara, Turkiye
  • 5. Duzce Univ, Fac Med, Dept Biochem, Duzce, Turkiye
  • 6. Duzce Univ, Fac Med, Dept Infect Dis, Duzce, Turkiye
  • 7. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Univ, Fac Sci & Literature, Dept Analyt Chem, Burdur, Turkiye
  • 8. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Univ, Fac Sci & Literature, Dept Anorgan Chem, Burdur, Turkiye
  • 9. Ankara Univ, Fac Vet Med, Dept Genet, Ankara, Turkiye
  • 10. Egas Moniz Cooperat Ensino Super, Almada, Portugal

Description

Medical detection dogs have potential to be used to screen asymptomatic patients in crowded areas at risk of epidemics such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, the fact that SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs are in direct contact with infected people or materials raises important concerns due to the zoonotic potential of the virus. No study has yet recommended a safety protocol to ensure the health of SARSCoV-2 detection dogs during training and working in public areas. This study sought to identify suitable decontamination methods to obtain nonpathogenic face mask samples while working with SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs and to investigate whether dogs were able to adapt themselves to other decontamination procedures once they were trained for a specific odor. The present study was designed as a four-phase study: (a) Method development, (b) Testing of decon- tamination methods, (c) Testing of training methodology, and (d) Real life scenario. Surgical face masks were used as scent samples. In total, 3 dogs were trained. The practical use of 3 different decontam- ination procedures (storage, heating, and UV-C light) while training SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs were tested. The dog trained for the task alerted to the samples inactivated by the storage method with a sensitivity of 100 % and specificity of 98.28 %. In the last phase of this study, one dog of 2 dogs trained, alerted to the samples inactivated by the UV-C light with a sensitivity of 91.30% and specificity of 97.16% while the other dog detected the sample with a sensitivity of 96.00% and specificity of 97.65 %. (c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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