Three lions and two pumas have been confirmed to be stricken with the coronavirus, in line with a current examine in South Africa.
Researchers from the College of Pretoria started investigating the lions and pumas at an unnamed personal zoo in Johannesburg after the lions confirmed respiratory issues, runny noses, and a dry cough.
They found that COVID-19 was transmitted to the animals by zookeepers, a few of whom have been asymptomatic.
The analysis, titled SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Zoonoses to Pumas and Lions, South Africa, additionally revealed that each one three lions have been contaminated with the Delta variant, whereas one of many pumas was contaminated through the first wave of the pandemic however was not genetically analyzed.
“It is usually equally necessary to evaluate the chance of subsequent transmission between animals and extended shedding which will give rise to new variants,” it added.