Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged as the cause of a global pandemic in 2019-2020. In March 2020 New York City became the USA epicenter for the pandemic. On March 27, 2020 a Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) at the Bronx Zoo in New York City developed a cough and wheezing with subsequent inappetence. Over the next week, an additional Malayan tiger and two Amur tigers (P. t. altaica) in the same building and three lions (Panthera leo krugeri) in a separate building also became ill. The index case was immobilized, and physical examination and bloodwork results were unremarkable. Thoracic radiography and ultrasonography revealed peribronchial cuffing with bronchiectasis, and mild lung consolidation with alveolar-interstitial syndrome, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was identified by real-time, reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) on oropharyngeal and nasal swabs and tracheal wash fluid. Cytologic examination of tracheal wash fluid revealed necrosis, and viral RNA was detected in necrotic cells by in situ hybridization, confirming virus-associated tissue damage. SARS-CoV-2 was isolated from the tracheal wash fluid of the index case, as well as the feces from one Amur tiger and one lion. Fecal viral RNA shedding was confirmed in all seven clinical cases and an asymptomatic Amur tiger. Respiratory signs abated within 1-5 days for most animals, though persisted intermittently for 16 days in the index case. Fecal RNA shedding persisted for as long as 35 days beyond cessation of respiratory signs. This case series describes the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management of tigers and lions infected with SARS-CoV-2, and describes the duration of viral RNA fecal shedding in these cases. This report documents the first known natural transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to animals in the USA, and is the first report of SARS-CoV-2 in non-domestic felids.

中文翻译：

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美国纽约州布朗克斯动物园的马来亚虎（Panthera tigris jacksoni），阿穆尔虎（Panthera tigris altaica）和非洲狮（Panthera leo krugeri）的SARS-CoV-2感染和纵向粪便筛选。

严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）成为2019-2020年全球大流行的原因。2020年3月，纽约市成为美国大流行的中心。2020年3月27日，纽约市布朗克斯动物园的马来亚虎（Panthera tigris jacksoni）咳嗽并喘息，随后食欲不振。在接下来的一周中，同一栋建筑物中的另一只马来亚虎和两只阿穆尔虎（P. t。altaica）以及另一栋建筑物中的三头狮子（Panthera leo krugeri）也病了。索引病例被固定，体格检查和血液检查结果无明显变化。胸片和超声检查分别显示支气管扩张伴支气管周围套扎，肺泡间质综合征伴轻度肺巩固。通过实时鉴定SARS-CoV-2 RNA，口咽和鼻拭子及气管洗液中进行逆转录酶PCR（rRT-PCR）。气管洗液的细胞学检查显示坏死，并通过原位杂交在坏死细胞中检测到病毒RNA，证实了病毒相关的组织损伤。从指示病例的气管冲洗液以及一只东北虎和一只狮子的粪便中分离出SARS-CoV-2。在所有7例临床病例和无症状的东北虎中均确认到粪便病毒RNA脱落。对于大多数动物，呼吸道症状在1-5天内减弱，但在指示病例中间歇性地持续16天。粪便RNA脱落持续了长达35天，直至呼吸道症状停止。本案例系列介绍了感染SARS-CoV-2的老虎和狮子的临床表现，诊断评估和处理，并描述了在这些情况下病毒RNA粪便脱落的持续时间。该报告记录了SARS-CoV-2在人类中首次向人类自然传播到动物，也是SARS-CoV-2在非家猫中的首次报道。