Skip to main content
bioRxiv
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • ALERTS / RSS
Advanced Search
New Results

Detection dogs as a help in the detection of COVID-19 Can the dog alert on COVID-19 positive persons by sniffing axillary sweat samples ? Proof-of-concept study

Dominique Grandjean, Riad Sarkis, Jean-Pierre Tourtier, Clothilde Julien-Lecocq, Aymeric Benard, Vinciane Roger, Eric Levesque, Eric Bernes-Luciani, Bruno Maestracci, Pascal Morvan, Eric Gully, David Berceau-Falancourt, Jean-Luc Pesce, Bernard Lecomte, Pierre Haufstater, Gregory Herin, Joaquin Cabrera, Quentin Muzzin, Capucine Gallet, Hélène Bacqué, Jean-Marie Broc, Leo Thomas, Anthony Lichaa, Georges Moujaes, Michele Saliba, Aurore Kuhn, Mathilde Galey, Benoit Berthail, Lucien Lapeyre, Olivier Méreau, Marie-Nicolas Matteï, Audrey Foata, Louisa Bey, Anne-Sophie Philippe, Paul Abassi, Ferri Pisani, Marlène Delarbre, Jean-Marc Orsini, Anthoni Capelli, Steevens Renault, Karim Bachir, Anthony Kovinger, Eric Comas, Aymeric Stainmesse, Erwan Etienne, Sébastien Voeltzel, Sofiane Mansouri, Marlène Berceau-Falancourt, Brice Leva, Frederic Faure, Aimé Dami, Marc Antoine Costa, Jean-Jacques Tafanelli, Jean-Benoit Luciani, Jean-Jacques Casalot, Lary Charlet, Eric Ruau, Mario Issa, Carine Grenet, Christophe Billy, Loic Desquilbet
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.03.132134
Dominique Grandjean
aEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris Est, 7 avenue du général de Gaulle, 94700 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: dominique.grandjean@vet-alfort.fr
Riad Sarkis
bUniversité Franco-Libanaise St Joseph, Faculté de Médecine, Rue de Damas, BEIROUT 11072180 (LIBAN)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jean-Pierre Tourtier
eCentre Hospitalo-Universitaire Henri-Mondor, Université Paris Est-Créteil, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Clothilde Julien-Lecocq
aEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris Est, 7 avenue du général de Gaulle, 94700 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Aymeric Benard
dService d’Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud (2a), Chemin de la Sposata, 20189 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Vinciane Roger
aEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris Est, 7 avenue du général de Gaulle, 94700 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Eric Levesque
eCentre Hospitalo-Universitaire Henri-Mondor, Université Paris Est-Créteil, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Eric Bernes-Luciani
dService d’Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud (2a), Chemin de la Sposata, 20189 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Bruno Maestracci
dService d’Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud (2a), Chemin de la Sposata, 20189 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Pascal Morvan
fDiagNoses, Ferme St Grégoire, 51310 NEUVY (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Eric Gully
gService Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de Seine et Marne (77), 56 avenue de Corbeil, 77001 MELUN (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
David Berceau-Falancourt
hCompagnie cynophile de la Préfecture de Police, Avenue du l’Ecole de Joinville, 75012 PARIS (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jean-Luc Pesce
iCentre Hospitalier, Route du Stiletto, 20090 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Bernard Lecomte
iCentre Hospitalier, Route du Stiletto, 20090 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Pierre Haufstater
oHôpital Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83 Boulevard de l’Hôpital 75013 PARIS (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Gregory Herin
pBiodesive SAS, 25 rue Becquerel, 67200 STRASBOURG (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Joaquin Cabrera
aEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris Est, 7 avenue du général de Gaulle, 94700 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Quentin Muzzin
aEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris Est, 7 avenue du général de Gaulle, 94700 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Capucine Gallet
aEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris Est, 7 avenue du général de Gaulle, 94700 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Hélène Bacqué
aEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris Est, 7 avenue du général de Gaulle, 94700 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jean-Marie Broc
cHôpital d’Instruction des Armées Bégin, 69 avenue de Paris, 94160 SAINT-MANDÉ (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Leo Thomas
cHôpital d’Instruction des Armées Bégin, 69 avenue de Paris, 94160 SAINT-MANDÉ (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Anthony Lichaa
bUniversité Franco-Libanaise St Joseph, Faculté de Médecine, Rue de Damas, BEIROUT 11072180 (LIBAN)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Georges Moujaes
bUniversité Franco-Libanaise St Joseph, Faculté de Médecine, Rue de Damas, BEIROUT 11072180 (LIBAN)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Michele Saliba
bUniversité Franco-Libanaise St Joseph, Faculté de Médecine, Rue de Damas, BEIROUT 11072180 (LIBAN)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Aurore Kuhn
cHôpital d’Instruction des Armées Bégin, 69 avenue de Paris, 94160 SAINT-MANDÉ (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Mathilde Galey
cHôpital d’Instruction des Armées Bégin, 69 avenue de Paris, 94160 SAINT-MANDÉ (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Benoit Berthail
cHôpital d’Instruction des Armées Bégin, 69 avenue de Paris, 94160 SAINT-MANDÉ (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Lucien Lapeyre
eCentre Hospitalo-Universitaire Henri-Mondor, Université Paris Est-Créteil, 51 avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94010 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Olivier Méreau
jHôpital Impératrice Eugénie, Boulevard Pascal Rossino, 20000 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Marie-Nicolas Matteï
jHôpital Impératrice Eugénie, Boulevard Pascal Rossino, 20000 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Audrey Foata
jHôpital Impératrice Eugénie, Boulevard Pascal Rossino, 20000 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Louisa Bey
jHôpital Impératrice Eugénie, Boulevard Pascal Rossino, 20000 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Anne-Sophie Philippe
jHôpital Impératrice Eugénie, Boulevard Pascal Rossino, 20000 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Paul Abassi
jHôpital Impératrice Eugénie, Boulevard Pascal Rossino, 20000 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Ferri Pisani
jHôpital Impératrice Eugénie, Boulevard Pascal Rossino, 20000 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Marlène Delarbre
jHôpital Impératrice Eugénie, Boulevard Pascal Rossino, 20000 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jean-Marc Orsini
jHôpital Impératrice Eugénie, Boulevard Pascal Rossino, 20000 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Anthoni Capelli
fDiagNoses, Ferme St Grégoire, 51310 NEUVY (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Steevens Renault
fDiagNoses, Ferme St Grégoire, 51310 NEUVY (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Karim Bachir
fDiagNoses, Ferme St Grégoire, 51310 NEUVY (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Anthony Kovinger
fDiagNoses, Ferme St Grégoire, 51310 NEUVY (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Eric Comas
gService Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de Seine et Marne (77), 56 avenue de Corbeil, 77001 MELUN (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Aymeric Stainmesse
gService Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de Seine et Marne (77), 56 avenue de Corbeil, 77001 MELUN (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Erwan Etienne
gService Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de Seine et Marne (77), 56 avenue de Corbeil, 77001 MELUN (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Sébastien Voeltzel
gService Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de Seine et Marne (77), 56 avenue de Corbeil, 77001 MELUN (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Sofiane Mansouri
gService Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de Seine et Marne (77), 56 avenue de Corbeil, 77001 MELUN (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Marlène Berceau-Falancourt
kCynopro Dectection Dogs, Carrefour Porte de Madrid Pavillon est, 75016 PARIS (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Brice Leva
dService d’Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud (2a), Chemin de la Sposata, 20189 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Frederic Faure
lGendarmerie Nationale Groupe d’Intervention Cynophile, Quartier Battesti CS 80402, 20162 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Aimé Dami
dService d’Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud (2a), Chemin de la Sposata, 20189 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Marc Antoine Costa
dService d’Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud (2a), Chemin de la Sposata, 20189 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jean-Jacques Tafanelli
dService d’Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud (2a), Chemin de la Sposata, 20189 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jean-Benoit Luciani
dService d’Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud (2a), Chemin de la Sposata, 20189 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Jean-Jacques Casalot
dService d’Incendie et de Secours de Corse du Sud (2a), Chemin de la Sposata, 20189 AJACCIO (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Lary Charlet
gService Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de Seine et Marne (77), 56 avenue de Corbeil, 77001 MELUN (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Eric Ruau
gService Départemental d’Incendie et de Secours de Seine et Marne (77), 56 avenue de Corbeil, 77001 MELUN (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Mario Issa
bUniversité Franco-Libanaise St Joseph, Faculté de Médecine, Rue de Damas, BEIROUT 11072180 (LIBAN)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Carine Grenet
mGrand hôpital de l’Est Francilien, 2 cours de la Gondoire, 77600 JOSSIGNY (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Christophe Billy
nCentre hospitalier François Quesnay, Boulevard de Sully, 7 avenue du général de Gaulle, 78201 MANTES-LA-JOLIE (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Loic Desquilbet
aEcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, Université Paris Est, 7 avenue du général de Gaulle, 94700 MAISONS-ALFORT (FRANCE)
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Abstract
  • Full Text
  • Info/History
  • Metrics
  • Preview PDF
Loading

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate if the sweat produced by COVID-19 persons (SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive) has a different odour for trained detection dogs than the sweat produced by non COVID-19 persons. The study was conducted on 3 sites, following the same protocol procedures, and involved a total of 18 dogs. A total of 198 armpits sweat samples were obtained from different hospitals. For each involved dog, the acquisition of the specific odour of COVID-19 sweat samples required from one to four hours, with an amount of positive samples sniffing ranging from four to ten. For this proof of concept, we kept 8 dogs of the initial group (explosive detection dogs and colon cancer detection dogs), who performed a total of 368 trials, and will include the other dogs in our future studies as their adaptation to samples scenting takes more time.

The percentages of success of the dogs to find the positive sample in a line containing several other negative samples or mocks (2 to 6) were 100p100 for 4 dogs, and respectively 83p100, 84p100, 90p100 and 94p100 for the others, all significantly different from the percentage of success that would be obtained by chance alone.

We conclude that there is a very high evidence that the armpits sweat odour of COVID-19+ persons is different, and that dogs can detect a person infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
Back to top
PreviousNext
Posted June 05, 2020.
Download PDF
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv.

NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Detection dogs as a help in the detection of COVID-19 Can the dog alert on COVID-19 positive persons by sniffing axillary sweat samples ? Proof-of-concept study
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
Detection dogs as a help in the detection of COVID-19 Can the dog alert on COVID-19 positive persons by sniffing axillary sweat samples ? Proof-of-concept study
Dominique Grandjean, Riad Sarkis, Jean-Pierre Tourtier, Clothilde Julien-Lecocq, Aymeric Benard, Vinciane Roger, Eric Levesque, Eric Bernes-Luciani, Bruno Maestracci, Pascal Morvan, Eric Gully, David Berceau-Falancourt, Jean-Luc Pesce, Bernard Lecomte, Pierre Haufstater, Gregory Herin, Joaquin Cabrera, Quentin Muzzin, Capucine Gallet, Hélène Bacqué, Jean-Marie Broc, Leo Thomas, Anthony Lichaa, Georges Moujaes, Michele Saliba, Aurore Kuhn, Mathilde Galey, Benoit Berthail, Lucien Lapeyre, Olivier Méreau, Marie-Nicolas Matteï, Audrey Foata, Louisa Bey, Anne-Sophie Philippe, Paul Abassi, Ferri Pisani, Marlène Delarbre, Jean-Marc Orsini, Anthoni Capelli, Steevens Renault, Karim Bachir, Anthony Kovinger, Eric Comas, Aymeric Stainmesse, Erwan Etienne, Sébastien Voeltzel, Sofiane Mansouri, Marlène Berceau-Falancourt, Brice Leva, Frederic Faure, Aimé Dami, Marc Antoine Costa, Jean-Jacques Tafanelli, Jean-Benoit Luciani, Jean-Jacques Casalot, Lary Charlet, Eric Ruau, Mario Issa, Carine Grenet, Christophe Billy, Loic Desquilbet
bioRxiv 2020.06.03.132134; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.03.132134
Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Google logo LinkedIn logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
Detection dogs as a help in the detection of COVID-19 Can the dog alert on COVID-19 positive persons by sniffing axillary sweat samples ? Proof-of-concept study
Dominique Grandjean, Riad Sarkis, Jean-Pierre Tourtier, Clothilde Julien-Lecocq, Aymeric Benard, Vinciane Roger, Eric Levesque, Eric Bernes-Luciani, Bruno Maestracci, Pascal Morvan, Eric Gully, David Berceau-Falancourt, Jean-Luc Pesce, Bernard Lecomte, Pierre Haufstater, Gregory Herin, Joaquin Cabrera, Quentin Muzzin, Capucine Gallet, Hélène Bacqué, Jean-Marie Broc, Leo Thomas, Anthony Lichaa, Georges Moujaes, Michele Saliba, Aurore Kuhn, Mathilde Galey, Benoit Berthail, Lucien Lapeyre, Olivier Méreau, Marie-Nicolas Matteï, Audrey Foata, Louisa Bey, Anne-Sophie Philippe, Paul Abassi, Ferri Pisani, Marlène Delarbre, Jean-Marc Orsini, Anthoni Capelli, Steevens Renault, Karim Bachir, Anthony Kovinger, Eric Comas, Aymeric Stainmesse, Erwan Etienne, Sébastien Voeltzel, Sofiane Mansouri, Marlène Berceau-Falancourt, Brice Leva, Frederic Faure, Aimé Dami, Marc Antoine Costa, Jean-Jacques Tafanelli, Jean-Benoit Luciani, Jean-Jacques Casalot, Lary Charlet, Eric Ruau, Mario Issa, Carine Grenet, Christophe Billy, Loic Desquilbet
bioRxiv 2020.06.03.132134; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.03.132134

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Subject Area

  • Animal Behavior and Cognition
Subject Areas
All Articles
  • Animal Behavior and Cognition (3482)
  • Biochemistry (7329)
  • Bioengineering (5301)
  • Bioinformatics (20212)
  • Biophysics (9985)
  • Cancer Biology (7706)
  • Cell Biology (11273)
  • Clinical Trials (138)
  • Developmental Biology (6425)
  • Ecology (9923)
  • Epidemiology (2065)
  • Evolutionary Biology (13292)
  • Genetics (9353)
  • Genomics (12559)
  • Immunology (7681)
  • Microbiology (18964)
  • Molecular Biology (7421)
  • Neuroscience (40915)
  • Paleontology (298)
  • Pathology (1226)
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (2130)
  • Physiology (3145)
  • Plant Biology (6842)
  • Scientific Communication and Education (1271)
  • Synthetic Biology (1893)
  • Systems Biology (5299)
  • Zoology (1086)