Four lions in Tamil Nadu’s zoo were infected with the Covid delta variant, according to genome sequencing.

The Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, near here, said today that genome sequencing of four COVID-19 infected lions revealed that they belong to Pangolin lineage B.1.617.2 and are Delta variants according to WHO nomenclature.

The World Health Organization (WHO) classified the B.1.617.2 lineage as a variant of concern on May 11, this year, citing evidence of higher transmissibility and reduced neutralization, according to the zoo’s deputy director.

The park sent samples of 11 lions housed there to the ICAR-National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, to be tested for SARS CoV-2, four lions on May 24 and seven on May 29.

The institute announced on June 3 that samples from 9 lions had tested positive for SARS CoV-2. Following that, the animals were subjected to active treatment.

According to the deputy director, the Institute shared the results of genome sequencing of the SARS CoV-2 virus that infected the lions in response to a request from zoo authorities.

“The director of ICAR-NIHSAD informed that four of the samples’ genomes were sequenced at NIHSAD, Bhopal. The sequence analysis reveals that all four sequences belong to Pangolin lineage B.1.617.2 and are Delta variants according to WHO nomenclature “According to the release.

COVID-19 claimed the lives of a nine-year-old lioness named Neela and a 12-year-old male lion named Pathbanathan earlier this month.

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