Dogs in US being taught to smell coronavirus in patients

<div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lj1VCxlzLUU/XsOPbLmOYaI/AAAAAAAAAys/huryCTvNHIQNVlmjVd8oXYqSdQulwSDiACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/images%252835%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="678" height="213" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lj1VCxlzLUU/XsOPbLmOYaI/AAAAAAAAAys/huryCTvNHIQNVlmjVd8oXYqSdQulwSDiACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/images%252835%2529.jpg" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo credit: <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/service-dog-training-101/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 1.25em;">AKC </a></div><br></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dogs in the US are being trained to detect Covid-19 in patients, to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic.</div><div><br></div><div>In the trial programme, run by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine, eight dogs will be trained over the course of three weeks to sniff out coronavirus from urine and saliva samples.</div><div><br></div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Whtc4WXxeI/XsOPb3RdzEI/AAAAAAAAAy0/jr0UOXJEnNoSwfWXc8zWjyHuuXYHrQkWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/images%252836%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="590" height="180" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3Whtc4WXxeI/XsOPb3RdzEI/AAAAAAAAAy0/jr0UOXJEnNoSwfWXc8zWjyHuuXYHrQkWwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/images%252836%2529.jpg" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo credit: <a href="https://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2016/11/dr-cindy-otto-is-winner-of-2016-dogs-best-friend-award/amp/" target="_blank" style="font-size: 1.25em;">Livewithdogs</a></div><br></div><div>Dr Cynthia Otto, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said in a statement, that dogs already have the ability to sniff out other dangerous conditions.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Scent detection dogs can accurately detect low concentrations of volatile organic compounds, otherwise known as <b>VOCs</b>, associated with various diseases such as ovarian cancer, bacterial infections, and nasal tumours. These VOCs are present in human blood, saliva, urine or breath,” she said.</div><div><br></div><div>The study is hoping that dogs will be able to help tackle the pandemic, by identifying coronavirus patients, even if they are asymptomatic.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dr Otto added that “the potential impact of these dogs and their capacity to detect Covid-19 could be substantial.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>“This study will harness the dog’s extraordinary ability to support the nation’s Covid-19 surveillance systems, with the goal of reducing community spread.”​</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>This is not the first study to see if dogs can be trained to smell coronavirus in patients, as in the UK, Durham university, alongside the Medical Detection Dogs charity and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, started research into the possibility last month.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Six dogs are being trained in that programme, and the researchers hope that they will know if they can sniff out Covid-19 in a few weeks.</div><div><br></div><div>“A dog is sniffing each person in turn — it takes 0.5 of a second, the dog quickly identifies which people need a test and need to go straight into isolation to prevent the further spread around the UK,”  Dr Claire Guest, the founder of Medical Detection Dogs wrote.</div><div><br></div><div>“This would be fast, effective and non-invasive and make sure the limited NHS testing resources are only used where they are really needed,” she added.</div><div><br></div><div>Culled from: <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/coronavirus-dogs-us-patients-covid-19-a9498541.html" target="_blank" style="font-size: 1.25em;">INDEPENDENT.CO.UK</a></div>

Dogs in US being taught to smell coronavirus in patients

Photo credit:  AKC  Dogs in the US are being trained to detect Covid-19 in patients, to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic. In the trial ...

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Family dog tested Positive of Covid19

<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dCeXvSknRBc/XqijU1f7cWI/AAAAAAAAAiE/1bY87aR9oDc-LAQkw16M_jlz5yMLqqsJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/screenshot2020-04-28--22_19_36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="371" data-original-width="500" height="237" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dCeXvSknRBc/XqijU1f7cWI/AAAAAAAAAiE/1bY87aR9oDc-LAQkw16M_jlz5yMLqqsJwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/screenshot2020-04-28--22_19_36.jpg" width="320"></a></div>DURHAM, N.C. -- A pet dog tested positive for COVID-19 in North Carolina, in what researchers say is the first known novel coronavirus case in a canine.<div><br></div><div>The positive case comes from a research study being conducted at Duke University.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Molecular and Epidemiological Study of Suspected Infection (MESSI) is testing how bodies respond to different types of infections. The goal of the study is to ultimately develop infection biomarkers to help treatment and prevention of illnesses.</div><div><br></div><div>During the MESSI research, a family who was participating in the study had its dog tested for the virus. The dog tested positive.</div><div><br></div><div>"To our knowledge, this is the first instance in which the virus has been detected in a dog. Little additional information is known at this time as we work to learn more about the exposure," MESSI principal investigator Dr. Chris Woods said in a statement.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dr. Heather McLean is a Duke Health pediatrician. Her husband is an ER doctor. They, as well as their human son, all tested positive for the virus.</div><div><br></div><div>McLean said her family experienced very mild symptoms. She said the same was true of Winston, the family's pug. Winston lost his appetite for a day, but other than that, he appeared healthy.</div><div><br></div><div>The McLeans have two dogs and one cat. Winston is the only pet that tested positive for COVID-19.</div><div><br></div><div>As part of the study, the family will continue to be tested. McLean said her family thought it was important to do what they could to help researchers better understand this new virus.</div><div><br></div><div>"Just reading about it and hearing it in the news and going into the hospital it is a little creepy," McLean said. "Everyone is a little on edge and afraid, so this just gives us the ability to feel like we have something that we can contribute to society and help patients get better."</div><div><br></div><div>COVID-19 has been found in big cats and other felines.</div><div><br></div><div>There have been reports of COVID-19 in dogs in other parts of the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "CDC is aware of a small number of pets, including dogs and cats, reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19."</div><div><br></div><div>MESSI started before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has since shifted its focus to help respond to the crisis.</div><div><br></div><div>The team is now working exclusively with people who tested positive for COVID-19 or were exposed to the virus.</div><div><br></div><div>The team hopes its research can help develop improved diagnostic tests for the earliest stages of the disease, track mutations of the virus over time, understand how the body responds to the virus' changes, evaluate using convalescent plasma for therapy, and create a vaccine.</div><div><br></div><div>Source: <a href="Abc7news.com" target="_blank" style="font-size: 1.25em;">Abc7news.com</a></div>

Family dog tested Positive of Covid19

DURHAM, N.C. -- A pet dog tested positive for COVID-19 in North Carolina, in what researchers say is the first known novel coronavirus case ...

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