Journal Article

SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Zoonoses to Pumas and Lions, South Africa

Koeppel, Katja Natalie, Venter, Marietjie, Mendes, Adriano, Strydom, Amy, Mulumba, Misheck, Rotherham, Lia

2022

Overview

Reverse-zoonotic infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from humans to wildlife species internationally raise concern over the emergence of new variants in animals. A better understanding of the transmission dynamics and pathogenesis in susceptible species will mitigate the risk to humans and wildlife occurring in Africa. Here we report infection of an exotic puma (July 2020) and three African lions (July 2021) in the same private zoo in Johannesburg, South Africa. One Health genomic surveillance identified transmission of a Delta variant from a zookeeper to the three lions, similar to those circulating in humans in South Africa. One lion developed pneumonia while the other cases had mild infection. Both the puma and lions remained positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA for up to 7 weeks.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Acids / Animals / Animals, Zoo / Anorexia / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - pathology / COVID-19 - transmission / COVID-19 - veterinary / COVID-19 - virology / Disease transmission / Enzymes / Genome, Viral / genomics / Humans / Lions / monitoring / One Health / pathogenesis / Phylogeny / pneumonia / Puma / reverse zoonosis / risk / RNA / RNA, Viral - genetics / SARS-CoV-2 / SARS-CoV-2 - classification / SARS-CoV-2 - genetics / SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification / SARS-CoV-2 - physiology / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / South Africa / South Africa - epidemiology / Viral Load / Viral Zoonoses - pathology / Viral Zoonoses - transmission / Viral Zoonoses - virology / Viruses / Wildcats / Wildlife / Zoonoses / zoos