Zoological Gardens Research Articles

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant (B.1.617.2) in Domestic Dogs and Zoo Tigers in England and Jersey during 2021

Reverse zoonotic transmission events of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been described since the start of the pandemic, and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) designated the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in animals a reportable disease. Eighteen domestic and zoo animals in Great Britain and Jersey were tested by APHA for SARS-CoV-2 during 2020–2023. One domestic cat (Felis catus), three domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and three Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica) from a zoo were confirmed positive during 2020–2021 and reported to the WOAH. All seven positive animals were linked with known SARS-CoV-2 positive human contacts. Characterisation of the SARS-CoV-2 variants by genome sequencing indicated that the cat was infected with an early SARS-CoV-2 lineage. The three dogs and three tigers were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern (B.1.617.2). The role of non-human species in the onward transmission and emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 remain poorly defined. Continued surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in relevant domestic and captive animal species with high levels of human contact is important to monitor transmission at the human−animal interface and to assess their role as potential animal reservoirs.

Analysing the effects of distance, taxon and biomass on vertebrate detections using bulk-collected carrion fly iDNA.

Invertebrate-derived DNA (iDNA) metabarcoding from carrion flies is a powerful, non-invasive tool that has value for assessing vertebrate diversity. However, unknowns exist around the factors that influence vertebrate detections, such as spatial limits to iDNA signals or if detections are influenced by taxonomic class or estimated biomass of the vertebrates of interest. Using a bulk-collection method, we captured flies from within a zoo and along transects extending 4 km away from this location. From 920 flies, we detected 28 vertebrate species. Of the 28 detected species, we identified 9 species kept at the zoo, 8 mammals and 1 bird, but no reptiles. iDNA detections were highly geographically localized, and only a few zoo animals were detected outside the zoo setting. However, due to the low number of detections in our dataset, we found no influence of the taxonomic group or the estimated biomass of animals on their detectability. Our data suggest that iDNA detections from bulk-collected carrion flies, at least in urban settings in Australia, are predominantly determined by geographic proximity to the sampling location. This study presents an important step in understanding how iDNA techniques can be used in biodiversity monitoring.

Role of Vitamin E And Selenium as an Anti-Stressant in Translocation of Captive Ungulates

Wild ungulates especially in captivity face high stress in translocation that may cause even mortality. Chemical immobilization is employed to minimize stress by using sedatives. Vitamin E and Selenium may have impact on reducing stress. Objectives: To estimate the impact of Vitamin E and Selenium treatment in translocation of captive ungulates. Methods: The study was carried out while planned translocation of 40 ungulates from different zoological gardens of four districts of Punjab to Safari Zoo, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan was performed. The animals were divided into two equal groups i.e., A and B. Both groups were anesthetized with combination of Ketamine and Xylazine while Vitamin E and Selenium was also injected in group B after anesthesia. Blood samples were also drawn for hemato-chemical analysis in both groups. The necropsy of the dead animals was also done for internal organs and skeletal muscles examination. Results: In the group A, two chinkaras and two spotted deer were found dead at the time of release. The pale areas, hemorrhages and clotted blood were observed in necropsy. The values of Hemoglobin, Total Erythrocyte Count and Packed Cell Volume were moderately varied from the normal in both groups. The group A had greater lymphocyte count and lower neutrophils while in group B, lymphocyte count was lower, neutrophils were higher and Aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), and cortisol levels were quite higher than normal. Conclusions: Vitamin E and Selenium has positive impact to reduce stress level in translocation of captive ungulates.

Daytime spatial relationships in a family group of black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis at the Hiroshima City Asa Zoological Park, Japan.

Although black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis are mostly solitary in the wild, the Hiroshima City Asa Zoological Park (Asa Zoo) has kept a family group together during the daytime, with good reproductive performance over five decades. Management procedures at the zoo include temporary single housing of the mother before and after giving birth, which facilitates maintenance of a compatible family group. We recorded intra-group spatial relationships for 4 years and 4 months, during which time an adult female reared two consecutive calves. During daytime she remained in an enclosure with her new calf, one or two older offspring, and an adult male, the sire of all her offspring. Proximity (within two adult body-lengths) scores between the mother and her two calves were especially high during the first year after birth, and only slightly lower for her older offspring. The adult male had the lowest proximity scores. The spatial relationships were visualized by applying multidimensional scaling (MDS) to the proximity scores. Mother and calves were plotted close to each other, with older offspring slightly farther apart on the two-dimensional MDS representation; the adult male was more distant from the other group members. These findings indicate clear follower-type characteristics in the mother-calf pair and also older immature offspring, albeit to a lesser degree. Although black rhinoceros are generally solitary in the wild, our results duplicate observations of some wild black rhinoceros groups containing an adult female, her calf, and an older immature, with adult males being largely solitary.

Weight as an indicator of enclosure suitability in Livingstone's fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii).

Obesity is common in zoo animals, and both dietary management and the provision of adequate opportunities for exercise are needed to tackle it. We used 30 years of records from Jersey Zoo to compare the weight and forearm length of wild and captive-born Livingstone's fruit bats (Pteropus livingstonii), and to assess the impact on weight of enclosure space. The mean capture weight of wild-caught male Livingstone's bats was 657 g, significantly higher than that of females (544 g). In both wild and captive-born bats, males had significantly longer forearms than females, but there was no effect of birth location. Males weighed more in the mating season than at other times of year. Both sexes gained more weight during development if born in enclosures that restricted flight rather than a large aviary; this was particularly noticeable in females. After reaching maturity at 3 years, weights of bats born in restricted enclosures continued to increase, reached a peak of over 1000 g at 8-10 years, and then declined in both sexes. The weight of bats born in the aviary remained more stable after the age of three. Like wild bats, adult females born in the aviary weighed less than males. However, females born in restricted enclosures weighed more than males born in the same enclosures. Enclosure designs that maximize opportunities for flight can limit excessive weight gain in captive fruit bats and may therefore improve fitness and health, essential in planning for future reintroduction programs.

Risky conclusions regarding shrinking rhino horns

Abstract Image‐based analyses from an online repository on rhino horns asserted that declines in size over time could be the consequence of poaching and hunting. We provide reflections on whether the sample was representative enough to make generalizations, the study adequately accounted for the main sources of horn‐size variation and the statistical methods were adequate to be confident in the results. The sample had a limited representation, most coming from zoo animals. We highlight several sources of variance in horn size that such a sample could not evaluate robustly using linear regressions, both for establishing a proxy for horn size corrected for size of a rhino and assessing trends over time. Nevertheless, horn poaching continues to be the key threat to rhinos. Addressing the underlying drivers of poaching and trafficking are key priorities for responsible public debate, policy making and interventions. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Wildlife Preservation and Public Enlightenment: An In-Depth Analysis of Kanpur Zoological Park's Contribution to Conservation and Education

Sprawling over 76.56 hectares, the Kanpur Zoological Park (KZP) is the largest open green space in Kanpur and the largest zoological park in North India. Housing over 1,400 animals representing nearly 125 species, KZP serves as a crucial sanctuary for endangered wildlife. Notably, they participate in breeding programs for critically endangered species like the white tiger (with a captive population of 3 at KZP) and the Himalayan black bear (currently housing 5 individuals). KZP's rehabilitation efforts have successfully released 23 Indian pangolins back into their natural habitat since 2010, contributing directly to the conservation of this threatened species.In the realm of education, KZP offers a diverse range of programs, reaching over 800,000 students annually. These programs include interactive exhibits, guided tours, and educational workshops, fostering environmental awareness and appreciation for biodiversity. However, challenges remain, including ensuring the ethical welfare of animals in captivity and measuring the long-term impact of educational programs on visitor behavior.By embracing new technologies, fostering collaboration with other organisations, and prioritising ethical practices, KZP has the potential to significantly improve its impact. This can include initiatives like utilising VR technology to enhance visitor engagement with animal habitats (studies suggest VR experiences can increase knowledge retention by up to 20%) and developing standardised assessment methods to measure the effectiveness of educational programs. By addressing these challenges and leveraging its strengths as a prominent green space and conservation centre, KZP can become a leading force in inspiring future generations to become stewards of the environment.

Mammal dung-dung beetle trophic networks: an improved method based on gut-content DNA.

Dung beetles provide many important ecosystem services, including dung decomposition, pathogen control, soil aeration, and secondary seed dispersal. Yet, the biology of most dung beetles remains unknown. Natural diets are poorly studied, partly because previous research has focused on choice or attraction experiments using few, easily accessible dung types from zoo animals, farm animals, or humans. This way, many links within natural food webs have certainly been missed. In this work, we aimed to establish a protocol to analyze the natural diets of dung beetles using DNA gut barcoding. First, the feasibility of gut-content DNA extraction and amplification of 12s rDNA from six different mammal dung types was tested in the laboratory. We then applied the method to beetles caught in pitfall traps in Ecuador and Germany by using 12s rDNA primers. For a subset of the dung beetles caught in the Ecuador sampling, we also used 16s rDNA primers to see if these would improve the number of species we could identify. We predicted the likelihood of amplifying DNA using gut fullness, DNA concentration, PCR primer, collection method, and beetle species as predictor variables in a dominance analysis. Based on the gut barcodes, we generated a dung beetle-mammal network for both field sites (Ecuador and Germany) and analyzed the levels of network specificity. We successfully amplified mammal DNA from dung beetle gut contents for 128 specimens, which included such prominent species as Panthera onca (jaguar) and Puma concolor (puma). The overall success rate of DNA amplification was 53%. The best predictors for amplification success were gut fullness and DNA concentration, suggesting the success rate can be increased by focusing on beetles with a full gut. The mammal dung-dung beetle networks differed from purely random network models and showed a moderate degree of network specialization (H2': Ecuador = 0.49; Germany = 0.41). We here present a reliable method of extracting and amplifying gut-content DNA from dung beetles. Identifying mammal dung via DNA reference libraries, we created mammal dung-dung beetle trophic networks. This has benefits over previous methods because we inventoried the natural mammal dung resources of dung beetles instead of using artificial mammal baits. Our results revealed higher levels of specialization than expected and more rodent DNA than expected in Germany, suggesting that the presented method provides more detailed insights into mammal dung-dung beetle networks. In addition, the method could have applications for mammal monitoring in many ecosystems.

Circoviridae Survey in Captive Non-Human Primates, Italy.

Circoviruses (CVs) and cycloviruses (CyVs), members of the family Circoviridae, have been identified only occasionally in non-human primates (NHPs). In this study, we investigated the presence and genetic features of these viruses in 48 NHPs housed in the Bioparco-Rome Zoological Garden (Italy) and in the Anima Natura Wild Sanctuary Semproniano (Grosseto, Italy), testing fecal, saliva, and serum samples with a broadly reactive consensus nested PCR able of amplifying a partial region of the replicase (Rep) gene of members of the family Circoviridae. Viral DNA was detected in a total of 10 samples, including a saliva swab and 9 fecal samples collected, respectively from five Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) and four mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx), with an overall prevalence of 18.7% (9/48). On genome sequencing, five strains revealed the highest nucleotide identity (98.3-98.6%) to a CyV strain (RI196/ITA) detected in the intestinal content of a Maltese wall lizard (Podarcis filfolensis) in Italy. Although the origin of the Italian NHP strains, genetically distant from previously detected NHP CyVs, is uncertain, our results also highlight that the virome of captive animals is modulated by the different dietary and environmental sources of exposure.

Epidemiology and Molecular Characterization of Zoonotic Gastrointestinal Protozoal Infection in Zoo Animals in China.

Zoo animals, harboring zoonotic gastrointestinal protozoal diseases, pose potential hazards to the safety of visitors and animal keepers. This study involved the collection and examination of 400 fresh fecal samples from 68 animal species, obtained from five zoos. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence, genetic characteristics, and zoonotic potential of common gastrointestinal protists. PCR or nested PCR analysis was conducted on these samples to detect four specific parasites: Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Blastocystis spp. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp was 0.5% (2/400), G. duodenalis was 6.0% (24/400), Blastocystis spp. was 24.5% (98/400), and E. bieneusi was 13.5% (54/400). G. duodenalis, Blastocystis spp., and E. bieneusi were detected in all of the zoos, exhibiting various zoonotic genotypes or subtypes. G. duodenalis-positive samples exhibited three assemblages (D, E, and B). Blastocystis spp. subtypes (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, ST8, ST10, ST13, and ST14) and one unknown subtype (ST) were identified. A total of 12 genotypes of E. bieneusi were identified, including SC02, BEB6, Type IV, pigEBITS 7, Peru8, PtEb IX, D, CD9, EbpC, SCBB1, CM4, and CM7. Moreover, significant differences in the positive rates among different zoos were observed (p < 0.01). The findings indicate that zoo animals in China are affected by a range of intestinal protozoa infections. Emphasizing molecular identification for specific parasite species or genotypes is crucial for a better understanding of the zoonotic risk. Preventing and controlling parasitic diseases in zoos is not only vital for zoo protection and management but also holds significant public health implications.

Wild Animals in Captivity: An Analysis of Parasite Biodiversity and Transmission among Animals at Two Zoological Institutions with Different Typologies.

We have conducted a 10-year-long coprological study of the animals housed in two zoological institutions (ZooAquarium and Faunia, Madrid, Spain) to assess the parasite biodiversity, prevalence, and their relation with host class, diet, and enclosure type (soil type and level of isolation from wild fauna). A total of 4476 faecal samples from 132 mammal species and 951 samples from 86 avian species were examined. The results indicated that only 12.8% of avian species had parasites at least once during the study period, whereas 62.1% of mammal species tested positive. Predominantly, protists (Entamoeba, flagellates, and ciliates) and nematodes (mainly Trichuris) were identified in the findings. Carnivorous species were primarily infected by nematodes, while herbivorous and omnivorous species were mainly infected by protists. The number of infected herbivorous and omnivorous species was significantly greater than carnivorous species. Differences were observed based on soil type (artificial, natural, mixed) and isolation level (isolated/accessible), but these differences were not statistically significant. Several parasites (Entamoeba spp., Giardia spp., Balantidoides coli, Trichuris spp.) could potentially be transmitted between humans and some mammals and birds. Regular animal analyses and a personnel health program in the institutions would minimise transmission risks between zoo animals, wildlife, and humans.

Conservation recovery of Batagur kachuga and Batagur dhongoka turtles in India: Development and operation of a head-starting facility

In 2006, a long-term conservation project was initiated for the recovery of endangered turtles Batagur kachuga and Batagur dhongoka along the lower Chambal river. This is based on the collection of eggs from the wild, incubation in a riverside hatchery, and then for most hatchlings release back into the wild within 24 hours of hatching. A sub-set of these hatchlings are reared at the Turtle Conservation Centre, in a specially designed head-starting facility until they weigh up to 1 kg, before release into the wild. A detailed description is given of the design, development and operation of the head-starting facility. Up to 2020, the project had successfully head-started 786 B. kachuga and 66 B. dhongoka. Moreover, this head-starting facility has supplied two conservation colonies, consisting of 50 subadult B. kachuga within the species’ historical range, Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre and Kanpur Zoological Park, both under the aegis of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department. The long-term aim of the project is to retore B. kachuga to its former range.

Copper Intoxication in South American Camelids-Review of the Literature and First Report of a Case in a Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna).

Copper (Cu), an essential trace element in the metabolism of mammals, plays a central role in various metabolic processes. However, overdosing can lead to severe symptoms and even fatalities. Chronic Cu intoxication continues to be a problem in grazing and domestic animals, with sheep being particularly sensitive. There are few comparative studies on its impact on South American camelids (SACs). Therefore, this work presents the results of literature research combined with a case report on a 3-year-old female vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) presented to the clinic from a zoological garden in northern Germany. The animal showed reduced food intake, recumbency, bruxism, icteric mucous membranes and sclera. Auscultation revealed atony of the third compartment and the digestive tract. Similar to cases described in the literature, the animal showed rapid deterioration of its condition with unspecific symptoms of liver failure and rapid death. However, in contrast to descriptions in sheep, clinical icterus has not been previously reported in cases of other SACs. Laboratory findings from EDTA and serum samples revealed neutrophilia with a left shift, hypoproteinaemia, lymphopaenia, azotaemia, elevated levels of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) in the serum. Hyperbilirubinaemia and significantly elevated serum and liver Cu levels were observed. Subsequent blood samples from the remaining vicuñas and alpacas in the same enclosure showed no remarkable abnormalities. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this case report represents the first documented case of Cu intoxication specifically in vicuñas.

Vesicular stomatitis virus in two species of rhinoceros at a California zoological park.

To describe an outbreak of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in southern white rhinoceros (SWR; Ceratotherium simum simum) and greater one-horned rhinoceros (GOHR; Rhinoceros unicornis) at a safari park in San Diego, CA, from May to September 2023. 21 SWR and 5 GOHR in professionally managed care. Rhinoceros of both species presented with a range of clinical signs and severities. Lesion locations were categorized as cutaneous (coronary bands, heels and soles, limbs, ventrum, neck folds, and ears) and mucocutaneous (lips, nostrils, mucous membranes of the oral cavity, and vulva). Clinical signs included lethargy, lameness, difficulty with prehension, hyporexia to anorexia, and hypersalivation. Severely affected rhinoceros had clinical pathology findings consistent with systemic inflammation. Vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus was confirmed via PCR from swabs of lesions in 10/26 (38%) rhinoceros. Of these 10 confirmed cases, 9 (90%) were SWR and 1 (10%) was a GOHR. A further 6/26 (24%) were considered probable cases, and 10/26 (38%) were considered suspect cases based on clinical signs, but the inability to appropriately sample due to the housing environment precluded confirmation. Histopathology samples from 3 rhinoceros were consistent with VSV, and viral RNA was localized in histologic lesions via RNA in situ hybridization for 1 case. All rhinoceros survived infection despite severe systemic illness in 2 animals. This case series describes the clinical appearance and progression of VSV in 2 rhinoceros species. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of VSV in a rhinoceros.

Dolphin-WET-Development of a Welfare Evaluation Tool for Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care.

Ensuring high standards of animal welfare is not only an ethical duty for zoos and aquariums, but it is also essential to achieve their conservation, education, and research goals. While for some species, animal welfare assessment frameworks are already in place, little has been done for marine animals under human care. Responding to this demand, the welfare committee of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals (EAAM) set up a group of experts on welfare science, cetacean biology, and zoo animal medicine across Europe. Their objective was to develop a comprehensive tool to evaluate the welfare of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), named Dolphin-WET. The tool encompasses 49 indicators that were either validated through peer review or management-based expertise. The first of its kind, the Dolphin-WET is a species-specific welfare assessment tool that provides a holistic approach to evaluating dolphin welfare. Inspired by Mellor's Five Domains Model and the Welfare Quality®, its hierarchical structure allows for detailed assessments from overall welfare down to specific indicators. Through combining 37 animal-based and 12 resource-based indicators that are evaluated based on a two- or three-level scoring, the protocol offers a detailed evaluation of individual dolphins. This approach allows for regular internal monitoring and targeted welfare management, enabling caretakers to address specific welfare concerns effectively.

The Stool Microbiome in African Ruminants: A Comparative Metataxonomic Study Suggests Potential for Biogas Production

Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising substrate for anaerobic digestion (AD) in renewable energy generation but presents a significant challenge during the hydrolysis stage of conventional AD due to the recalcitrant nature of this biomass substrate. Rumen fluid is often employed as a bioaugmentation seed to enhance hydrolysis in the AD of lignocellulosic substrates due to its richness in hydrolytic bacteria. However, using rumen fluid to enhance AD processes presents substantial hurdles, including the procurement difficulties associated with rumen fluid and ethical concerns. In this study, the fecal microbiota of 10 African ruminant species from a large zoological park (Bioparc) in Valencia, Spain, were studied using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. In this study, the fecal microbiota of 10 African ruminant species from a large zoological park (Bioparc) in Valencia, Spain, were studied using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The investigation revealed potential similarities between the fecal microbiota from the African ruminants’ and cows’ rumen fluids, as suggested by theoretical considerations. Although direct comparative analysis with cow rumen fluid was not performed in this study, the theoretical framework and existing literature hint at potential similarities. According to our results, the Impala, Blesbok, Dikdik and Bongo ruminant species stood out as having the greatest potential to be used in bioaugmentation strategies. Key genera such as Fibrobacter, Methanobrevibacter, and Methanosphaera in Impala samples suggested Impala rumen fluid’s involvement in cellulose breakdown and methane production. Blesbok and Dikdik exhibited a high abundance of Bacillus and Atopostipes, potentially contributing to lignin degradation. The richness of Prevotellaceae and Rikenellaceae in the Bongo fecal samples is probably associated with structural carbohydrate degradation. Taken together, our results shed light on the microbial ecology of the gut contents of a whole set of Bovidae ruminants and contribute to the potential application of gut microbiota in AD.

Attitudes Towards Turtle Conservation: An Island Wide Study in Sri Lanka

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Sri Lanka is visited by the five of the seven living sea turtle species recorded in the world. Sea turtle populations are declining, as is their ability to perform critical services in ocean ecosystems. Some of the obvious risks faced by marine turtles in Sri Lanka include incidental bycatch, illegal egg poaching, habitat change, destruction, and natural causes such as predation and erosion. Attitudes towards conservation of turtles and underlying motives for such attitudes is a lesser researched subject in the country. The present study therefore aims at assessing the attitudes of Sri Lankans towards conservation of sea turtles. A household survey was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire adopting simple random sampling among 1084 households across the twenty-five districts of Sri Lanka through telephone and in-person interview from December 2021 to May 2022. The socioeconomic data of respondents, membership in a wild life or environmental organizations, recreational experience of turtles were also collected. A set of statements on sea turtles were presented for which the respondents indicated their preferences. Their willingness to contribute towards conservation was also recorded. The results of the study indicate that individuals from twenty-five districts had already been exposed to a wealth of knowledge regarding marine turtles and were well-informed. There were 603 individuals from coastal districts while 481 were from non-coastal districts. The average age was 45 years while number of respondents who had a membership of any environmental related wildlife organization was 164. Seventy four percent of the sample had seen live marine turtles; 37.6% of them had seen marine turtles in zoological gardens. Majority of respondents strongly agreed that (84% on average) sea turtles are worth protecting. Forty one percent of respondents agreed that it is everyone‘s duty to ensure the existence of plants and animals for future generations, showing that respondents had bequest motive for marine turtle conservation. Majority (63.3%) of respondents strongly agreed that sea turtles have the right to exist in the environment, showing that there is a strong existence motive for the conservation of sea turtles. The study emphasize the need to better utilize the strong motives of people for sea turtle conservation efforts in Sri Lanka that requires attention of legislators and decision-makers.&#x0D; Keywords: Sea turtle, Attitudes, Conservation, Motives&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Safety and immunogenicity of an adjuvanted recombinant spike protein-based severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine, SpikeVet™, in selected Carnivora, Primates and Artiodactyla in Australian zoos.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can infect a broad range of animal species and has been associated with severe disease in some taxa. Few studies have evaluated optimal strategies to mitigate the risk to susceptible zoo animals. This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a protein-based veterinary SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (SpikeVet™) in zoo animals. Two to three doses of SpikeVet™ were administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously 3-4 weeks apart to 354 zoo animals representing 38 species. SpikeVet™ was very well tolerated across all species. Minor adverse effects were observed in 1.69% of animals vaccinated, or 1.04% of vaccine doses administered. Preliminary immunogenicity analyses in representative carnivores (meerkats, lions) and an artiodactylid (domestic goat) showed SpikeVet™-immunized animals developed serum antibodies able to neutralize a range of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the vaccine-homologous Wuhan and Mu variants, as well as vaccine-heterologous Omicron BA.2 and XBB.1 strains. Prior to vaccination, all eight lions were seropositive for Wuhan strain by surrogate viral neutralization testing, suggesting past infection with SARS-CoV-2 or cross-reactive antibodies generated by another closely related coronavirus. These results from a range of zoo species support the ongoing development of SpikeVet™ as a safe and effective veterinary SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Cryptosporidium infection in captive wild animals at Sanda Kyarimi Zoo in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Wild mammals are essential food sources for man and animal predators. Cryptosporidium species have a broad host range, including  wildlife, which serve as crucial disease reservoirs for domestic animals and humans with a potential public health concern. The scarcity of  information on the incidence of cryptosporidiosis among wild animals in North-eastern Nigeria necessitated the present study, which investigated the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts among captive wild mammals in Maiduguri. Faecal samples collected from  Artiodactyla/Proboscidae (n=9), Carnivores (n=7), Primates (n=9), Reptilia (n=4), and Rodentia (n=2) were examined using the  ZiehlNeelsen staining technique to detect Cryptosporidium oocyst. Of the 31 captive mammals examined, 17 (54.8%), 14 (45.2%), 9  (29.0%) and 22 (71.0%) were respectively classified as males, females, young and adults. A total of 12 (38.7%; 95% CI: 23.7, 56.2) out of the  31 examined samples were positive, with a higher prevalence of 57.1% (95% CI: 25.0, 84.2) observed among carnivores compared to the  other animals. There was no statistical association (p &gt; 0.05) between the occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and sex as well as the  age of the individual mammal species examined. This paper underscores the role of anthroponotic and zoonotic transmission at the  human-wildlife interface in zoological gardens (Zoo) and parks worldwide. 

High pathogenicity avian influenza A (H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus infection in a captive Tibetan black bear (Ursus thibetanus): investigations based on paraffin-embedded tissues, France, 2022.

Avian influenza viruses are able to cross the species barrier between birds and mammals because of their high genetic diversity and mutation rate. Using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, we were able to investigate a Tibetan black bear's infection by a high pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza virus at the molecular, phylogenetic, and histological levels. Our results highlight the importance of virological surveillance programs in mammals and the importance of raising awareness among veterinarians and zookeepers of the clinical presentations associated with H5Nx virus infection in mammals.