COVID sniffer dogs' real-life feasibility study is successful - Medical Xpress

Research led by University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo), successful practice with Hannover Medical School (MHH), Robert Koch Institute, Hannover Concerts, ProEvent Hannover and AWiAS Aviation Services GmbH, examined whether trained corona detection dogs tin beryllium utilized successful mundane life.

For the archetypal of its benignant study, the task squad held 4 concerts astatine the extremity of 2021, astatine which the aesculapian detection dogs sniffed sweat samples from each visitors astatine the entranceway to observe SARS-CoV-2 infections. The probe squad published their results contiguous successful the BMJ Global Health.

The Lower Saxony Ministry for Science and Culture supported the study. "I americium delighted with the occurrence of the 'Back to Culture' feasibility study," said Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture, Falko Mohrs. "It shows that utilizing dogs tin beryllium an enactment for corruption control. This survey is simply a further impervious of Lower Saxony's creativity and innovative strength."

The wide complaint of concordant results was astir 100%. Eight dogs had been trained successful beforehand to admit SARS-CoV-2-positive samples by smell. To measure however good the corona detection dogs' show of screening radical for SARS-CoV-2 works successful an mundane situation, the task squad organized 4 concerts with Fury successful the Slaughterhouse, Bosse, Alle Farben and Sido.

A full of 2,802 participants came to the 4 events. They each provided sweat samples, which were presented to the dogs successful a line-up script wherever the visitors had nary nonstop interaction with the dogs. In addition, each participants had been tested with a SARS-CoV-2-specific accelerated antigen trial and an RT-qPCR earlier the respective concert. They besides provided accusation connected age, gender, vaccination status and their aesculapian history.

The SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs achieved a diagnostic specificity of 99.93% (detection of antagonistic samples) and a sensitivity of 81.58% (detection of affirmative samples). The wide statement complaint was 99.68%. The bulk of the participants had been vaccinated with antithetic vaccines and vaccination schedules, respective visitors suffered from chronic illnesses and were treated with chronic medication. This did not impact the decisions and moving behaviour of the dogs.

Professor Holger Volk, caput of the TiHo's tiny carnal clinic, said, "Our results amusement that SARS-CoV-2 detection dogs tin execute precocious diagnostic accuracy successful a real-world scenario. Vaccination status, erstwhile SARS-CoV-2 infection, chronic illness and medicine of the participants had nary interaction connected the dogs' quality to observe an acute infection. The survey besides demonstrates however corona detection dogs tin beryllium utilized successful everyday life."

The task 'Back to Culture'

As aboriginal arsenic July 2020, a probe squad from the Clinic for Small Animals had shown successful a pilot study that dogs, with their exceptional consciousness of smell, are capable to separate betwixt samples from SARS-CoV-2-infected and steadfast radical nether laboratory conditions with astir 94% certainty. A follow-up survey showed that sweat and urine are besides suitable illustration materials.

The purpose of the associated task 'Back to Culture' was to analyse however and whether large events tin beryllium made safer by utilizing corona detection dogs. The survey results besides supply a connection arsenic to whether corona detection dogs could besides beryllium utilized successful different mundane situations.

Provided by Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover