Materials and Methods

This literature review was conducted using an exploratory scoping study approach, as its purpose was to rapidly map the broad state of knowledge regarding SARS-CoV-2 and animals from the heterogenous types of available evidence, rather than to answer a clearly defined question (Arksey & O’Malley, 2005). We conducted successive daily scans of multiple electronic databases, preprint repositories, internet search engines, government and organisational websites, and media sources, and used different combinations of the following words and phrases to actively identify additional relevant publications: SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, COVID-19, nCoV-19, animal, pet, cat, dog, ferret, hamster, tiger, lion, monkey, primate, bat, pangolin, snake, mink, ‘reservoir host’, ‘intermediate host’, transmission, susceptibility, infection. The searches covered all years and any publications in English and Dutch. We also searched reference lists from key reviews and articles to identify additional publications or sources of interest. Study titles and abstracts were screened, with full articles obtained and re-evaluated for inclusion/exclusion under the following criteria:
  1. Inclusion criteria: Epidemiological studies, case reports, commentaries, reviews, letters, editorials, preprints, government documents, media reports and blogs, published in English or Dutch between 31st December 2019 and 23rd June 2020, that were relevant under the following categories: 1) reports of natural SARS-CoV-2 infections in domestic or wild animal species; 2) experimental SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility, pathogenesis and/or transmission studies in animals; 3) discussions, predictions and/or modelling of animal reservoir and/or intermediate host species for SARS-CoV-2, and 4) general reviews or commentary about SARS-CoV-2 and animals.
  2. Exclusion criteria: Any documents relating to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines or therapeutics, including nanobody and antibody therapy, and articles published in a language other than English or Dutch.
Based on the above criteria, a total of 351 documents were collated and evaluated for inclusion in this review: 78 journal articles; 79 preprints; 75 media articles (including newspaper and magazine articles); 113 official reports, documents and press releases; and 6 websites. Included references were sorted into the categories listed above. Data from experimental studies were entered into a Microsoft Word template by animal species. Case data on natural infections in animals were entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, from which summary tables were created.