No Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Neotropical Primates Sampled During COVID-19 Pandemic in Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

• DOI: 10.1007/s10393-021-01569-1
• Publication Date: 2021-11-29T13:02:53Z
• Authors: Filipe Vieira San...; Mariana Viana Macedo; Alex Junio Jardim...; Cirilo Henrique d...; Vinícius Oliveira...; Marco Antônio Bar...; Edmilson dos Santos; Jader Cruz da Car...; Aline Scarpellini...; Claudia Maria Dor...; Amanda Gonzales d...; Miguel Souza de A...; Valéria Magro Oct...; Walter Octaviano ...; Giliane Souza de ...; George Rego Albuq...; Anaiá Paixão da Sevá; Bergmann Morais R...; Danilo Simonini T...; Fabrício Souza Ca...; Ana Cláudia Franco; Paulo Michel Roehe; Danilo Bretas de ...
• Keywords: Primates; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; SARS-CoV-2; Short Communication; Animals; COVID-19; Humans; Pandemics; Brazil; 3. Good health

AbstractIn 2019, a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was detected in China. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was capable to infect domestic and captive mammals like cats, tigers and minks. Due to genetic similarities, concern about the infection of Non-Human Primates (NHPs) and the establishment of a sylvatic cycle has grown in the Americas. In this study, neotropical primates (NP) were sampled in different areas from Brazil to investigate whether they were infected by SARS-CoV-2. A total of 89 samples from 51 NP of four species were examined. No positive samples were detected via RT-qPCR, regardless of the NHP species, tissue or habitat tested. This work provides the first report on the lack of evidence of circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in NP. The expand of wild animals sampling is necessary to understand their role in the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2.