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Literature detail

Multi-species outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in a zoological institution, with the detection in two new families of carnivores.

Matthew C Allender1,2 Michael J Adkesson1 Jennifer N Langan1,3 Katie W Delk1 Thomas Meehan1 Copper Aitken-Palmer1 Michael M McEntire4 Mary L Killian5 Mia Torchetti5 Shirley A Morales6 Connie Austin7 Richard Fredrickson8 Colleen Olmstead8 Ruian Ke9 Rebecca Smith10 Eric T Hostnik1,11 Karen Terio12 Leyi Wang8
Affiliations 12 institutions
  1. Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, Illinois, USA.
  2. Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, University of Illinois Wildlife Epidemiology Laboratory, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
  3. Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
  4. Illinois Zoological and Aquatic Animal Residency, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
  5. National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, Iowa, USA.
  6. Cook County Department of Public Health, Forest Park, Illinois, USA.
  7. Illinois Department of Public Health, Springfield, Illinois, USA.
  8. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
  9. T-6, Theoretical Biology and Biophysics, T Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA.
  10. Department of Pathobiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.
  11. Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
  12. Zoological Pathology Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Brookfield, Illinois, USA.
PMID 35839756 2022 Transbound Emerg Dis eng ppublish
PubMed DOI Browse context

Article

Publication summary

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a worldwide distribution in humans and many other mammalian species. In late September 2021, 12 animals maintained by the Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo were observed with variable clinical signs. The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in faeces and nasal swabs by qRT-PCR, including the first detection in animals from the families Procyonidae and Viverridae. Test positivity rate was 12.5% for 35 animals tested. All animals had been vaccinated with at least one dose of a recombinant vaccine designed for animals and all recovered with variable supportive treatment. Sequence analysis showed that six zoo animal strains were closely correlated with 18 human SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggestive of potential human-to-animal transmission events. This report documents the expanding host range of COVID-19 during the ongoing pandemic.

carnivore Procyonidae SARS-CoV-2 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus Viverridae zoo COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Animals Disease Outbreaks Humans Pandemics Viverridae SARS-CoV-2 variants

Structured evidence records

Evidence records

4 total
Cross Species Transmission 1 records
Cross Species Transmission Extraction confidence 0.90
Key finding

SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was detected in several carnivore species, including the first cases in Procyonidae and Viverridae, demonstrating cross-species transmission among non-human mammals.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
United States Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo, United States
Supporting text

In late September 2021, 12 animals maintained by the Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo were observed with variable clinical signs. The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in faeces and nasal swabs by qRT-PCR, including the first detection in animals from the families Procyonidae and Viverridae.

Method
qRT-PCR; sequence analysis
Study design
outbreak investigation
Transmission direction
animal-to-animal
Geographic raw
Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo
Country inferred
United States
Genomic Evolution 1 records
Genomic Evolution Extraction confidence 0.80
Key finding

Genomic sequence comparison revealed that SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant isolates from zoo animals were closely related to human strains, indicating probable human-to-animal spillover.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Host
Metazoa
Location
Not specified
Supporting text

Sequence analysis showed that six zoo animal strains were closely correlated with 18 human SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggestive of potential human-to-animal transmission events.

Genes or proteins
whole genome
Analysis methods
sequence analysis; phylogenetic correlation
Outbreak Investigation 1 records
Outbreak Investigation Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

A multi-species SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant outbreak occurred among zoo animals in Chicago, with evidence of possible human-to-animal transmission.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
United States Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, United States
Supporting text

In late September 2021, 12 animals maintained by the Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo were observed with variable clinical signs. The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in faeces and nasal swabs by qRT-PCR, including the first detection in animals from the families Procyonidae and Viverridae. Sequence analysis showed that six zoo animal strains were closely correlated with 18 human SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggestive of potential human-to-animal transmission events.

Method
qRT-PCR; sequence analysis
Transmission direction
human-to-animal
Geographic raw
Brookfield Zoo, Chicago
Country inferred
United States
Outbreak setting
Chicago Zoological Society's Brookfield Zoo
Outbreak time
late September 2021
Outbreak scale
12 animals
Spillover Event 1 records
Spillover Event Extraction confidence 0.95
Key finding

Human-to-animal transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was suggested by genomic correlation between zoo animal and human strains during an outbreak at Brookfield Zoo.

Virus
SARS-CoV-2
Location
United States Brookfield Zoo, Chicago, United States
Supporting text

Sequence analysis showed that six zoo animal strains were closely correlated with 18 human SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggestive of potential human-to-animal transmission events.

Method
qRT-PCR; sequence analysis
Study design
outbreak investigation
Transmission direction
human-to-animal
Geographic raw
Brookfield Zoo, Chicago
Country inferred
United States