A Novel Host of an Emerging Disease: SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) Kept Under Clinical Care in Brazil

• DOI: 10.1007/s10393-022-01623-6
• Publication Date: 2023-01-24T13:02:02Z
• Authors: Asheley Henrique ...; Gabriela Oliveira...; Jaqueline Camargo...; Victoria Luiza de...; Bárbara Hawanna M...; Thays Oliveira Mo...; Joao Paulo da Sil...; Renata Dezengrini...; Richard Pacheco C...; Alexander Welker ...; Renan de Carvalho...; Pedro Eduardo Bra...; Marcos Almeida de...; Edson Moleta Colodel; Daniel Guimarães ...; Valéria Dutra; Luciano Nakazato
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; SARS-CoV-2; Short Communication; Humans; Animals; COVID-19; RNA, Viral; Vermilingua; Xenarthra; Brazil; 3. Good health

A young male free-ranging giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) was found with paralysis of pelvic limbs on a highway and kept under human care. Radiographs confirmed multiple incomplete fractures in the thoracolumbar vertebrae. Due to the poor prognosis, euthanasia was chosen. The infection was established by viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in the rectal swab, spleen and kidney samples. Immunohistochemistry detected the viral nucleocapsid protein in sections of the lungs, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and large intestine sections, and spike protein antigen in the lung tissue. Pilosa order species should be included as potential hosts of natural infection of SARS-CoV-2.