Several orangutans and bonobos at the San Diego Zoo have received an experimental COVID-19 vaccine developed specifically for animals. They mark the first known nonhuman primates to receive the shot.
An orangutan named Karen, which made history in 1994 as the world’s first open-heart ape to be operated on, was one of those who received the vaccine, according to National Geographic.
Last month, Karen, along with three other orangutans and five bonobos at the zoo, received two doses each of the vaccine, which was developed by the veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis.
“This is not the norm. In my professional career, I have not had access to an experimental vaccine so early in the process nor have I had such an overwhelming desire to want to use it,” said Nadine Lamberski, head of conservation and wildlife. savage told Nat Geo the health officer of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
Brent Stirton, Getty Images for National Geographic
In January, eight zoo gorillas became the world’s first great apes positive in the coronavirus test. Now they are recovering.
Infections in dogs have also been confirmed, cats, mink, tigers, lions and various other animals from around the world. However, great apes are a particular concern among conservationists.
All gorilla species are listed as endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, with “disease susceptibility” as one of the main threats. Infections spread rapidly among animals, living in close family groups.
COVID-19 has the potential to eliminate populations of gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans and bonobos if humans do not take steps to prevent their spread, according to experts they have warned.
Zoetis began developing a COVID-19 vaccine for dogs and cats after the first dog has been positive for the virus in Hong Kong more than a year ago. It was considered safe and effective in October, but the tests had only been done on dogs and cats.
Still, Lamberski decided to vaccinate the great apes that were worth the risk. He told National Geographic that they have not suffered any adverse reactions and that antibodies will soon be tested to determine if the shots were a success.
Brent Stirton, Getty Images for National Geographic
“It’s not that we take a vaccine at random and give it to a new species,” he said. “There’s a lot of reflection and research on that: what’s the risk of doing it and what’s the risk of not doing it. Our motto is, above all, not to do any harm.”
Lamberski said that because vaccines are made for a specific pathogen and not for a specific species, it is common to give one vaccine intended for one species to another. Zoo monkeys have flu and measles vaccines developed for humans.
A Zoetis spokesman told National Geographic that other U.S. zoos have requested vaccine doses for their own great apes. The company expects more to be available in June.
In addition, the company is currently testing the mink vaccine, of which there are tens of thousands. because of COVID-19.