Four contaminated TN zoo lions are delta variants: AAZP

Genome sequencing of the samples of 4 COVID-19 contaminated lions on the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur, close to right here, has revealed that they belong to Pangolin lineage B.1.617.2 and are Delta variants as per WHO. nomenclature, the park mentioned on Friday.
On May 11, this 12 months, the World Health Organisation (WHO) categorized B.1.617.2 lineage as a variant of concern (VOC), and mentioned it confirmed proof of upper transmissibility and diminished neutralization, the zoo’s deputy director mentioned.
AAZP despatched samples of 11 lions housed within the park to check for SARS CoV-2 4 lions on May 24 and 7 on May 29 to the ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal.
In its communication on June 3, the institute mentioned samples of 9 lions had examined constructive for SARS CoV-2.
Thereafter the animals have been underneath lively therapy.
The deputy director mentioned in a press release that the Institute shared the outcomes of genome sequencing of the SARSCoV-2 virus that contaminated the lions following a request from the zoo authorities.
“The director ICAR-NIHSAD informed that the Genome sequencing of four of the samples was done at NIHSAD, Bhopal.Analysis of the sequences shows that all the 4 sequences belong to Pangolin lineage B.1.617.2 and are Delta variantsas per WHO nomenclature,” the discharge acknowledged.

A nine-year-old lioness Neela and a male lion named Pathbanathan, aged 12 years, succumbed to COVID-19 earlierthis month.