TY - JOUR T1 - From people to <em>Panthera</em>: Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo JF - bioRxiv DO - 10.1101/2020.07.22.213959 SP - 2020.07.22.213959 AU - Denise McAloose AU - Melissa Laverack AU - Leyi Wang AU - Mary Lea Killian AU - Leonardo C. Caserta AU - Fangfeng Yuan AU - Patrick K. Mitchell AU - Krista Queen AU - Matthew R. Mauldin AU - Brittany D. Cronk AU - Susan L. Bartlett AU - John M. Sykes AU - Stephanie Zec AU - Tracy Stokol AU - Karen Ingerman AU - Martha A. Delaney AU - Richard Frederikson AU - Marina Ivančić AU - Melinda Jenkins-Moore AU - Katie Mozingo AU - Kerrie Franzen AU - Nichole Hines Bergeson AU - Laura Goodman AU - Haibin Wang AU - Ying Fang AU - Colleen Olmstead AU - Colleen McCann AU - Patrick Thomas AU - Erin Goodrich AU - François Elvinger AU - David C. Smith AU - Suxiang Tong AU - Sally Slavinski AU - Paul P. Calle AU - Karen Terio AU - Mia Kim Torchetti AU - Diego G. Diel Y1 - 2020/01/01 UR - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/07/22/2020.07.22.213959.abstract N2 - We describe the first cases of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection detected in animals in the United States. In March 2020, four tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo developed mild respiratory signs. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by rRT-PCR in respiratory secretions and/or feces from all seven affected animals; viral RNA and/or antibodies were detected in their keepers. SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from respiratory secretions or feces from three affected animals; in situ hybridization co-localized viral RNA with cellular damage. Whole genome sequence and haplotype network analyses showed tigers and lions were infected with two different SARS-CoV-2 strains, suggesting independent viral introductions. The source of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lions is unknown. Epidemiological data and genetic similarities between keeper and tiger viruses indicate human to animal transmission.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. ER -