Tiger tests positive for COVID-19 at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota
The infected tiger is a 21-year-old called Sabrina.
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A tiger has tested positive for COVID-19 at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Sandstone, Minnesota.
The tiger, a 21-year-old Sumatran/Bengal tiger called Sabrina, tested positive for the virus, received care and has subsequently recovered from what was initially thought to be a respiratory infection.
She becomes only the second captive or domestic animal in Minnesota to test positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, following a housecat last June. It’s a good reminder that the virus can be transmitted from people to animals. We appreciate the veterinarians in the state who contact our office to discuss testing and surveillance of exposed and symptomatic animals so we can investigate with our state and federal partners, said Minnesota State Veterinarian Dr. Beth Thompson.
Credit Kate Howard / WFPL
A snow leopard at the Louisville Zoo has tested positive for coronavirus. It’s the first confirmed case of the virus in a snow leopard.
Louisville Zoo Senior Veterinarian Zoli Gyimesi said the zoo’s snow leopards were tested after showing mild symptoms.
“For about the last two weeks, all three of our snow leopards have been exhibiting very mild very intermittent clinical signs, respiratory symptoms, consistent with a dry cough or wheeze,” Gyimesi said.
Fecal samples from the leopards were sent to the University of Illinois for evaluation, and NeeCee, the 5-year-old female leopard, tested positive. Results from two male leopards, Kimti and Meru, are still pending.