Quebec Zoo hopes to vaccinate wild animals against COVID

After millions of Quebecers rolled up their sleeves for COVID-19 vaccines, it could soon be the zoo animals’ turn to get vaccinated.

The Granby Zoo, east of Montreal, says it expects in the coming weeks or months to vaccinate about 90 animals against COVID-19, including gorillas, big cats and other creatures considered susceptible to the disease. The vaccines are in the United States awaiting authorization for Canada.

“Hopefully we can get started with at least a few species by Christmas. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that,” said Emilie Couture, a zoo veterinarian, in a recent interview.

She said the zoo plans to vaccinate the species that appear to be the most vulnerable to COVID-19. Primates and big cats like tigers, jaguars and leopards top the list, he said, adding that the zoo also includes some other mammals like red pandas.

There has been a “worrying” increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in North American zoos, especially among large cats such as lions and leopards, Couture said. Last week, three snow leopards died at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo in Nebraska from complications from COVID-19, an event she said shocked the North American zoo community.

“Contrary to early disease reports at the beginning of the pandemic with big cats, where they appear to have some respiratory signs but eventually recovered without significant illness, there are actually more serious illnesses that lead to death, even if institutions host and they take care of these animals already had biosecurity measures, “said Couture.

Many scientists believe that, as in humans, the more contagious Delta variant is to blame for the increase in cases and serious illnesses, he added.

The vaccines are manufactured by the US veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis, which began offering them to US zoos this summer. The company has offered to donate approximately 900 doses, enough for 450 animals, to six Canadian zoos. In a statement, Zoetis said its vaccines were developed and formulated specifically for animals and that, like those intended for humans, they must be administered in two doses, several weeks apart.

The next step is to get the vaccines across the border, which could still take weeks or months. Because the vaccine is not commercially available, Zoetis said it is applying for an experimental use authorization with the Canadian Center for Veterinary Biologics and the US Department of Agriculture.

Couture said none of the animals at the Granby Zoo have developed COVID-19 symptoms that require testing. However, he said the zoo has taken steps during the pandemic to protect the animals, including increased cleaning, eliminating backstage visits, reducing hands-on interactions, and requiring handlers to wash their hands and wear masks.

The Quebec Zoo hopes to vaccinate wild animals against COVID-19 in the coming weeks. # COVID-19

Couture said humans appear to pose the greatest threat to animals when it comes to spreading COVID-19. So far, there is no direct evidence that zoo animals have infected their keepers, he said.

“The only source of infection for (the animals) would be if they were cared for by an asymptomatic human,” he said.

The Toronto and Calgary zoos said they would also vaccinate their animals once a vaccine became available. Toronto added that about 140 of its animals would be eligible, including primates, big cats and pigs.

Both, like Granby, are waiting for the Zoetis vaccine, as no Canadian company is offering an injection designed for animals.

This Canadian Press report was first published on November 20, 2021.

Reference-www.nationalobserver.com

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