From people toPanthera: Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo

  1. Denise McAloose
  2. Melissa Laverack
  3. Leyi Wang
  4. Mary Lea Killian
  5. Leonardo C. Caserta
  6. Fangfeng Yuan
  7. Patrick K. Mitchell
  8. Krista Queen
  9. Matthew R. Mauldin
  10. Brittany D. Cronk
  11. Susan L. Bartlett
  12. John M. Sykes
  13. Stephanie Zec
  14. Tracy Stokol
  15. Karen Ingerman
  16. Martha A. Delaney
  17. Richard Fredrickson
  18. Marina Ivančić
  19. Melinda Jenkins-Moore
  20. Katie Mozingo
  21. Kerrie Franzen
  22. Nichole Hines Bergeson
  23. Laura Goodman
  24. Haibin Wang
  25. Ying Fang
  26. Colleen Olmstead
  27. Colleen McCann
  28. Patrick Thomas
  29. Erin Goodrich
  30. François Elvinger
  31. David C. Smith
  32. Suxiang Tong
  33. Sally Slavinski
  34. Paul P. Calle
  35. Karen Terio
  36. Mia Kim Torchetti
  37. Diego G. Diel
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Abstract

We describe the first cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection detected in animals in the United States. In March 2020, four tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo developed mild respiratory signs. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by rRT-PCR in respiratory secretions and/or feces from all seven affected animals; viral RNA and/or antibodies were detected in their keepers. SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from respiratory secretions or feces from three affected animals;in situhybridization co-localized viral RNA with cellular damage. Whole genome sequence and haplotype network analyses showed tigers and lions were infected with two different SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggesting independent viral introductions. The source of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lions is unknown. Epidemiological data and genetic similarities between keeper and tiger viruses indicate human to animal transmission.

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