CCMB lab issues testing rules for animals

‘We regularly test wildlife samples using DNA-based molecular biology tools’

Various species of animals can be infected with SARS-COV-2 — gorillas, tigers, lions, pumas, cougars and snow leopards, ferrets and minks as well as cats, dogs, bank voles, ferrets, fruit bats, hamsters, mink, pigs, rabbits, raccoon dogs, tree shrews, and white-tailed deer. Current studies do not indicate that animals spread infection back to humans. COVID symptoms in animals may include a lack of appetite, anorexia, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, nasal discharge, fever and respiratory distress. If any or all the above symptoms are noticed, then samples must be collected and sent immediately for diagnostics, including RT-PCR test. All of these are easier said than done! CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB)’s Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), one of the four designated centres for testing animal samples for possible coronavirus infection, has just released guidelines for the frontline zoo personnel on COVID-19 investigation in captive animals.