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

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 center dot 100 g(-1) cat food) and conditions (22 degrees C at room temperature and 4 degrees 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 center dot 100 g(-1) cat food) at 22 degrees 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.