Reverse-zoonotic infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from humans to wildlife species internationally raise concern over the emergence of new variants in animals. A better understanding of the transmission dynamics and pathogenesis in susceptible species will mitigate the risk to humans and wildlife occurring in Africa. Here we report infection of an exotic puma (July 2020) and three African lions (July 2021) in the same private zoo in Johannesburg, South Africa. One Health genomic surveillance identified transmission of a Delta variant from a zookeeper to the three lions, similar to those circulating in humans in South Africa. One lion developed pneumonia while the other cases had mild infection. Both the puma and lions remained positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA for up to 7 weeks.

The present study examined whether sweat glands are present in the skin of the Cape fur seal, Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus. Sweat glands have an important role in thermoregulation; the presence or absence of sweat glands in the fur-covered and naked skin areas of the Cape fur seal was investigated using standard histological procedures and light and scanning electron microscopy. Sweat glands were present in both fur-covered and naked skin areas. The skin layers in the naked skin areas were thicker than those in the fur-covered areas, presumably to protect them against abrasions in the absence of hair. The density of apocrine sweat glands did not differ among the body regions; however, both apocrine and eccrine sweat glands were larger in naked skin areas than in fur-covered areas. This increased size of the glands suggests a more active role for the glands in the naked skin areas, and a higher heat-loss capability through evaporative cooling in these body regions.