Serological and Molecular Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Tigers (Panthera tigris), Thailand
Issued Date
2022-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20762615
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85143505517
Journal Title
Animals
Volume
12
Issue
23
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Animals Vol.12 No.23 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Sangkachai N., Chaiwattanarungruengpaisan S., Thongdee M., Suksai P., Tangsudjai S., Wongluechai P., Suwanpakdee S., Wiriyarat W., Buddhirongawatr R., Prasittichai L., Skulpong A., Okada P.A., Puthavathana P., Paungpin W. Serological and Molecular Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Tigers (Panthera tigris), Thailand. Animals Vol.12 No.23 (2022). doi:10.3390/ani12233350 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/83072
Title
Serological and Molecular Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Tigers (Panthera tigris), Thailand
Other Contributor(s)
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.