A Canada lynx in Pittsburgh has tested positive for covid-19, the first known case in a lynx in the United States, officials at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium said Tuesday.
The lynx showed some symptoms, including occasional coughing, but “overall symptoms have been mild,” zoo spokesman Ian Hunter said in a statement. Four other lynx have been tested for the virus, and those results are pending.
Earlier this month, two tigers tested positive for covid-19. Hunter said they’ve since recovered.
The lynxes are housed close to the tigers and, while they began exhibiting symptoms later than the tigers, Hunter said “they were likely exposed to the virus in a similar window of time.”
Officials previously said the tigers likely contracted the virus from an asymptomatic zoo employee.
A Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo became the first zoo animal in the United States known to have contracted the virus. Six other big cats – three tigers and three African lions – also tested positive. All have recovered.
Earlier this year, two female lions in Pittsburgh tested positive for the virus and have since recovered. Zoo officials said there have been no virus-related fatalities among tigers in the United States. Two lions in India died in June after contracting the virus.
Zoos across the country have begun vaccinating their animals with doses developed by animal health company Zoetis. The company in July donated around 11,000 doses to 70 zoos nationwide.
