The delta variant of the coronavirus is fatal to humans as well as animals. Genome sequencing has revealed the presence of the delta variant in infected Asiatic lions found at Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Chennai in May. For the first time in the country, this variant has been found in nine Asiatic lions. While the virus took the lives of two lions.
The lions and lionesses named Neela and Pathabanathan died on June 3 and 16. Their ages were nine and 12 years, respectively. So far, apart from America and Spain, the lions of the Czech Republic were found corona infected, in which the alpha variant was confirmed, but the case of the delta variant has come up in India for the first time in the world.
The study, published in the medical journal BioRxiv, said that all the lion samples were sent to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (ICAR) in Bhopal for genome sequencing. Where experts found a delta variant in nine out of 11 samples. All of them were found corona infected in May last. Two deaths were recorded during the sequencing itself. Symptoms like loss of appetite, bleeding nose, cough were found in the infected lion-lioness. After this, the study was carried out on the samples of lioness- Jaya, Singh-Shankar, lioness- Niranjana, and Singh- Pradeep. The study did not identify the source of the infection but confirmed the rapid spread of the delta variant in animals as in humans.
Delta's effect is serious
The delta variant of the coronavirus was first found in the world in Maharashtra. So far it has caused havoc in more than 84 countries. In India also the second wave was seen because of this. This variant not only attacks antibodies but also increases the risk of infection in a person who has received both doses of the vaccine. It spreads very rapidly and has severe symptoms like difficulty in breathing. The Delta Plus variant is also derived from this, which is currently causing havoc in 10 to 12 countries.
Lion identified from the patient's sample
Scientists said that till June 11, information about genome sequencing of 310 samples from Tamil Nadu was given on the international portal. When sequencing was done with the lion's sample, the sample of a patient from the same area got mixed. Although the source of infection in Asiatic lions could not be traced due to the closure of the zoo during the lockdown, it has been learned that seven out of nine lions are associated with zoo safari, their shelter, feeding place, water source, etc. While the other two lions shared a separate location. This clearly shows that like humans, lions have also been infected by coming in contact with each other. This is very serious for the rest of the zoos in the country.
Infected from two to 18 years
It was informed in the study that lions aged between two and 18 years were found infected with the delta variant. The ages of lioness Jaya, Kavita, Neela, Niranjana, Jaya's mother Bhuvana were recorded as three, 18, nine, two, and 12 years respectively. Whereas the ages of Singh Pathabanathan, Shankar, Pradeep, Vishnu, Veera, and Shiva were found to be 12, 18, two, four, 10, and 12 years respectively.