SARS-CoV-2 and Companion Animals: Sources of Information and Communication Campaign during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The present survey-type investigation aimed at assessing the sources and the level of information of Italian citizens on the risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2 at the human–animal interface. The findings of the study showed that (a) the potential risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to companion animals has been only partially perceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, (b) the knowledge of preventive measures to avoid SARS-CoV-2 transmission between humans and animals received limited attention by the Italian population, and (c) the communication campaign on COVID-19 and companion animals was, overall, considered inadequate in Italy. The main source of information for Italian citizens was represented by television broadcasts, while few Italians relied on veterinarians to obtain information on the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between humans and companion animals. However, veterinarians were among the most trustworthy sources of information, suggesting that they and veterinary scientists in general could play a key role in the public communication of zoonoses and zoonotic pathogens. ABSTRACT: This study analyzed data on the sources and the level of Italians’ awareness on the risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2 at the human–animal interface. Data were collected through a survey-type investigation on a representative sample of the Italian population. Forty-five percent of the interviewees were aware that companion animals could be infected by SARS-CoV-2. However, 29.8% were familiar with preventive measures to adopt to avoid viral transmission between infected humans and companion animals, and only 20.7% knew which companion animals could be at risk of infection. Higher awareness regarding the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between animals and humans (51.7%) and the measures to prevent it (33.3%) was detected among companion animals’ owners. Notably, 40.4% of interviewees were not informed at all. Television broadcasts (26.4%) represented the main source of information, while only 3.5% of the interviewees relied on veterinarians, of which 31.9% considered this source of information as the most trustworthy. Overall, 72.4% of Italians recognized that the communication campaign on COVID-19 and companion animals was inadequate. This survey highlights the need for increasing the public awareness of the risk of companion animals being infected with SARS-CoV-2 and the involvement of professionals in the public communication on zoonoses.