TY - JOUR
T1 - Serological and Molecular Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Tigers (Panthera tigris), Thailand
AU - Sangkachai, Nareerat
AU - Chaiwattanarungruengpaisan, Somjit
AU - Thongdee, Metawee
AU - Suksai, Parut
AU - Tangsudjai, Siriporn
AU - Wongluechai, Peerawat
AU - Suwanpakdee, Sarin
AU - Wiriyarat, Witthawat
AU - Buddhirongawatr, Ruangrat
AU - Prasittichai, Luxsana
AU - Skulpong, Anurux
AU - Okada, Pilailuk Akkapaiboon
AU - Puthavathana, Pilaipan
AU - Paungpin, Weena
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Thailand
KW - captive tigers
KW - plaque reduction neutralization test
KW - surveillance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85143505517&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ani12233350
DO - 10.3390/ani12233350
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85143505517
SN - 2076-2615
VL - 12
JO - Animals
JF - Animals
IS - 23
M1 - 3350
ER -