Probable Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from African Lion to Zoo Employees, Indiana, USA, 2021

We describe animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a zoo setting in Indiana, USA. A vaccinated African lion with physical limitations requiring hand feeding tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after onset of respiratory signs. Zoo employees were screened, monitored prospectively for onset of sympt...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging infectious diseases 2023-06, Vol.29 (6), p.1102-1108
Main Authors: Siegrist, Audrey A, Richardson, Kira L, Ghai, Ria R, Pope, Brian, Yeadon, Jamie, Culp, Betsy, Behravesh, Casey Barton, Liu, Lixia, Brown, Jennifer A, Boyer, Leslie V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African lion
Animals
Antigens
Aquariums
Asymptomatic
Biosecurity
Contact Tracing
coronavirus disease
COVID-19
COVID-19 - veterinary
COVID-19 vaccines
Disease prevention
Disease transmission
Employees
Epidemics
Health aspects
Humans
Illnesses
Immunization
Immunoassay
Indiana - epidemiology
Infections
Laboratories
Lions
Medical supplies
Occupational health
Probable Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from African Lion to Zoo Employees, Indiana, USA, 2021
Risk factors
SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2 - genetics
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
viruses
Zoo keepers
Zoonoses
Zoos
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We describe animal-to-human transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a zoo setting in Indiana, USA. A vaccinated African lion with physical limitations requiring hand feeding tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after onset of respiratory signs. Zoo employees were screened, monitored prospectively for onset of symptoms, then rescreened as indicated; results were confirmed by using reverse transcription PCR and whole-genome virus sequencing when possible. Traceback investigation narrowed the source of infection to 1 of 6 persons. Three exposed employees subsequently had onset of symptoms, 2 with viral genomes identical to the lion's. Forward contact tracing investigation confirmed probable lion-to-human transmission. Close contact with large cats is a risk factor for bidirectional zoonotic SARS-CoV-2 transmission that should be considered when occupational health and biosecurity practices at zoos are designed and implemented. SARS-CoV-2 rapid testing and detection methods for big cats and other susceptible animals should be developed and validated to enable timely implementation of One Health investigations.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid2906.230150