Lack of Evidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spillover in Free-Living Neotropical Non-Human Primates, Brazil

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is responsible for the worst pandemic of the 21st century. Like all human coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 originated in a wildlife reservoir, most likely from bats. As SARS-CoV-2 has spread across the globe in humans, it has spilled over to infect a variety of non-human animal species in domestic, farm, and zoo settings. Additionally, a broad range of species, including one neotropical monkey, have proven to be susceptible to experimental infection with SARS-CoV-2. Together, these findings raise the specter of establishment of novel enzootic cycles of SARS-COV-2. To assess the potential exposure of free-living non-human primates to SARS-COV-2, we sampled 60 neotropical monkeys living in proximity to Manaus and São José do Rio Preto, two hotspots for COVID-19 in Brazil. Our molecular and serological tests detected no evidence of SAR-CoV-2 infection among these populations. While this result is reassuring, sustained surveillance efforts of wildlife living in close association with human populations is warranted, given the stochastic nature of spillover events and the enormous implications of SARS-CoV-2 spillover for human health.

Evolutionary Analysis of Mammalian ACE2 and the Key Residues Involved in Binding to the Spike Protein Revealed Potential SARS-CoV-2 Hosts

“…3). Consequently, no sign of SARS-CoV-2 infection in free-living marmoset was documented in Brazil, which sustains a high SARS-CoV-2 transmission [15]. Fig.…”

Ecological drivers of sustained enzootic yellow fever virus transmission in Brazil, 2017-2021

“…In 2019, only liver samples were harvested from carcasses. Starting in 2020 lung samples were also harvested from some carcasses, with the parallel purpose of investigating infection by SARS-CoV-2 (35); lung samples were also tested for YFV whenever available. Liver and lung samples were preserved in RNAlater solution (Ambion/USA), sent to the Virus Laboratory at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, and held at −20 °C until further use.…”

Infectious diseases of neotropical primates

“…NHP, including common marmosets (C. jacchus) has been extensively used as experimental models for SARS-COV-2 and others respiratory coronavirus (MERS-COV and SARS-COV), reproducing the disease that is observed in human patients (70,104,166,201,213). Therefore, two studies were performed searching for evidence of SARS-COV-2 in free-ranging NWP populations from the genera Callithrix, Callicebus, and Alouatta, all from hotspots for COVID-19 in Brazil (2,175). A total of 111 NWP was evaluated by RT-qPCR of oral and nasal swabs, blood and/or tissues and by PRNT, but no SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were detected, regardless of NWP species or biome tested (2,175), raising questions about the susceptibility of these animals to SARS-COV-2 under natural conditions.…”

“…Therefore, two studies were performed searching for evidence of SARS-COV-2 in free-ranging NWP populations from the genera Callithrix, Callicebus, and Alouatta, all from hotspots for COVID-19 in Brazil (2,175). A total of 111 NWP was evaluated by RT-qPCR of oral and nasal swabs, blood and/or tissues and by PRNT, but no SARS-CoV-2 positive samples were detected, regardless of NWP species or biome tested (2,175), raising questions about the susceptibility of these animals to SARS-COV-2 under natural conditions. However, there is a recent case of natural infection in a free-ranging blacktailed marmoset (Mico melanurus).…”