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Case Reports
. 2023 Jan 16;13(2):316.
doi: 10.3390/ani13020316.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius), Belgium

Francis Vercammen  1 , Brigitte Cay  2 , Sophie Gryseels  3   4 , Nadège Balmelle  2 , Léa Joffrin  3 , Koenraad Van Hoorde  5 , Bavo Verhaegen  5 , Elisabeth Mathijs  2 , Rianne Van Vredendaal  3 , Tanmay Dharmadhikari  3 , Koen Chiers  6 , Tim J S Van Olmen  7 , Gianfilippo Agliani  7 , Judith M A Van den Brand  7 , Herwig Leirs  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Captive Hippos (Hippopotamus amphibius), Belgium

Francis Vercammen et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Two adult female hippos in Zoo Antwerp who were naturally infected with SARS-CoV-2 showed nasal discharge for a few days. Virus was detected by immunocytochemistry and PCR in nasal swab samples and by PCR in faeces and pool water. Serology was also positive. No treatment was necessary.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; captive; faeces; hippo; nasal; pool.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Immunocytochemistry of a nasal swab smear of a hippo. Magnification 40×. (A) Hippo with SARS-CoV-2 antigen in mononuclear cells; (B) hippo without SARS-CoV-2 antigen in squamous epithelial cells, bar = 100 µm.
Figure 2
Figure 2
PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swabs and faeces of two hippos. For visual clarity, the negative samples (Ct > 40) were given a fictitious number: 41, 42, 43 and 44.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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