A man gestures to his dog during a pet fair in Hong Kong on Feb 18, 2011. (ED JONE / AFP)

HONG KONG - Animal health experts said on Wednesday a quarantined dog of a coronavirus patient in Hong Kong could be the first case of human-to-animal transmission, although they cautioned the matter remained under investigation.

The pet dog had repeatedly tested weak positive for the COVID-19, indicating low-level infection with the coronavirus, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Wednesday.

READ MORE: Dog found to have 'low level' of coronavirus in Hong Kong

A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said three tests on the dog's nasal and oral cavity samples were weak positive.

The dog, currently under quarantine at the animal keeping facility at the Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, has not shown any signs of disease related to the COVID-19

Experts from two Hong Kong universities and the World Organization for Animal Health said these results suggested that the dog has a low-level of infection and it is likely to be a case of human-to-animal transmission, the spokesman said.

The dog has not shown any signs of disease related to the COVID-19. It is currently under quarantine at an animal keeping facility at the Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

The AFCD said it would conduct further tests to confirm whether the dog has been infected with coronavirus, and that there is no evidence pets can be a source of infection.

“The department will continue to closely monitor the dog ... and repeat the test later. It will only be returned to its owner when the test result is negative,” the spokesman said.

Animal health experts examining the Hong Kong case said pet owners should not be overly concerned and not abandon their pets.

The World Health Organization website says there has so far been no evidence that companion pets can be infected with the coronavirus.

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Hong Kong has 103 confirmed cases of coronavirus, with two deaths.