Dataset Information

Serological and Molecular Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Tigers (Panthera tigris), Thailand.

ABSTRACT: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Given the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, continuous surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in animals is important. To monitor SARS-CoV-2 infection in wildlife in Thailand, we collected 62 blood samples and nine nasal- and rectal-swab samples from captive tigers (Panthera tigris) in Ratchaburi province in Thailand during 2020-2021. A plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was employed to detect SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. A real-time RT-PCR assay was performed to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Our findings demonstrated that four captive tigers (6.5%, 4/62) had SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies against Wuhan Hu-1 and the Delta variant, while no SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome could be detected in all swab samples. Moreover, a low-level titer of neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron BA.2 subvariant could be found in only one seropositive tiger. The source of SARS-CoV-2 infection in these tigers most likely came from close contact with the infected animals' caretakers who engaged in activities such as tiger petting and feeding. In summary, we described the first case of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in captive tigers during the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand and provided seroepidemiological-based evidence of human-to-animal transmission. Our findings highlight the need for continuous surveillance of COVID-19 among the captive tiger population and emphasize the need to adopt a One Health approach for preventing and controlling outbreaks of COVID-19 zoonotic disease.

SUBMITTER: Sangkachai N

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9736889 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Serological and Molecular Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Tigers (<i>Panthera tigris</i>), Thailand.

Sangkachai Nareerat N Chaiwattanarungruengpaisan Somjit S Thongdee Metawee M Suksai Parut P Tangsudjai Siriporn S Wongluechai Peerawat P Suwanpakdee Sarin S Wiriyarat Witthawat W Buddhirongawatr Ruangrat R Prasittichai Luxsana L Skulpong Anurux A Okada Pilailuk Akkapaiboon PA Puthavathana Pilaipan P Paungpin Weena W

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI 20221129 23

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Given the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, continuous surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in animals is important. To monitor SARS-CoV-2 infection in wildlife in Thailand, we collected 62 blood samples and nine nasal- and rectal-swab samples from captive tigers (<i>Panthera tigris</i>) in Ratchaburi province in Thailand during 2020-2021. A plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was employed to detect SARS-CoV-2 n ...[more]

PMID: 36496872

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Dataset Information

Serological and Molecular Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Tigers (Panthera tigris), Thailand.

Publications

Serological and Molecular Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Tigers (<i>Panthera tigris</i>), Thailand.

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