SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South America
ABSTRACTHuman populations can be affected in unpredictable ways by the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019) pandemic was a reminder of how devastating these events can be if left unchecked. However, once they have spread globally, the impact of these...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02741-23 |
| _version_ | 1827297862718849024 |
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| author | Mateo Carvajal Carolina Saenz Nathalia Fuentes Rommel Guevara Erika Muñoz Belen Prado-Vivar Eduardo Diaz Felipe Alfonso-Cortes Josefina Coloma Michelle Grunauer Patricio Rojas-Silva Paul A. Cardenas Veronica Barragan |
| author_facet | Mateo Carvajal Carolina Saenz Nathalia Fuentes Rommel Guevara Erika Muñoz Belen Prado-Vivar Eduardo Diaz Felipe Alfonso-Cortes Josefina Coloma Michelle Grunauer Patricio Rojas-Silva Paul A. Cardenas Veronica Barragan |
| author_sort | Mateo Carvajal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTHuman populations can be affected in unpredictable ways by the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019) pandemic was a reminder of how devastating these events can be if left unchecked. However, once they have spread globally, the impact of these diseases when entering non-exposed wildlife populations is unknown. The current study reports the infection of brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center in Ecuador. Four monkeys were hospitalized, and all tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) by RT-qPCR (Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR). Fecal samples (n = 12) from monkeys at the rescue center also tested positive; three zookeepers responsible for feeding and deworming the monkeys also tested positive, suggesting human-animal transmission. Whole genome sequencing identified most samples’ omicron clade 22B BA.5 lineage. These findings highlight the threat posed by an emerging zoonotic disease in wildlife species and the importance of preventing spillover and spillback events during epidemic or pandemic events.IMPORTANCEAlthough COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019) has been primarily contained in humans through widespread vaccination, the impact and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) and its transmission and epidemiology in wildlife may need to be addressed. In some natural environments, the proximity of animals to humans is difficult to control, creating perfect scenarios where susceptible wildlife can acquire the virus from humans. In these places, it is essential to understand how transmission can occur and to develop protocols to prevent infection. This study reports the infection of brown-headed spider monkeys with SARS-CoV-2, a red-listed monkey species, at a wildlife recovery center in Ecuador. This study reports the infection of brown-headed spider monkeys with SARS-CoV-2, indicating the potential for transmission between humans and wildlife primates and the importance of preventing such events in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:03:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e6022275be854050a54d83a2783619cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2165-0497 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T15:03:40Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6022275be854050a54d83a2783619cc2024-04-02T14:16:19ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972024-04-0112410.1128/spectrum.02741-23SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South AmericaMateo Carvajal0Carolina Saenz1Nathalia Fuentes2Rommel Guevara3Erika Muñoz4Belen Prado-Vivar5Eduardo Diaz6Felipe Alfonso-Cortes7Josefina Coloma8Michelle Grunauer9Patricio Rojas-Silva10Paul A. Cardenas11Veronica Barragan12Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Hospital de Fauna Silvestre TUERI-USFQ, Quito, EcuadorProyecto Washu-Fundación Naturaleza y Arte, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Quito, EcuadorProyecto Washu-Fundación Naturaleza y Arte, Quito, EcuadorUniversity of California, Berkeley, California, USAUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Escuela de Medicina, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, EcuadorUniversidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, EcuadorABSTRACTHuman populations can be affected in unpredictable ways by the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019) pandemic was a reminder of how devastating these events can be if left unchecked. However, once they have spread globally, the impact of these diseases when entering non-exposed wildlife populations is unknown. The current study reports the infection of brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center in Ecuador. Four monkeys were hospitalized, and all tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) by RT-qPCR (Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR). Fecal samples (n = 12) from monkeys at the rescue center also tested positive; three zookeepers responsible for feeding and deworming the monkeys also tested positive, suggesting human-animal transmission. Whole genome sequencing identified most samples’ omicron clade 22B BA.5 lineage. These findings highlight the threat posed by an emerging zoonotic disease in wildlife species and the importance of preventing spillover and spillback events during epidemic or pandemic events.IMPORTANCEAlthough COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019) has been primarily contained in humans through widespread vaccination, the impact and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus) and its transmission and epidemiology in wildlife may need to be addressed. In some natural environments, the proximity of animals to humans is difficult to control, creating perfect scenarios where susceptible wildlife can acquire the virus from humans. In these places, it is essential to understand how transmission can occur and to develop protocols to prevent infection. This study reports the infection of brown-headed spider monkeys with SARS-CoV-2, a red-listed monkey species, at a wildlife recovery center in Ecuador. This study reports the infection of brown-headed spider monkeys with SARS-CoV-2, indicating the potential for transmission between humans and wildlife primates and the importance of preventing such events in the future.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02741-23EcuadorwildlifeSARS-CoV-2Ateles fuscicepsNanoporeomicron |
| spellingShingle | Mateo Carvajal Carolina Saenz Nathalia Fuentes Rommel Guevara Erika Muñoz Belen Prado-Vivar Eduardo Diaz Felipe Alfonso-Cortes Josefina Coloma Michelle Grunauer Patricio Rojas-Silva Paul A. Cardenas Veronica Barragan SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South America Microbiology Spectrum Ecuador wildlife SARS-CoV-2 Ateles fusciceps Nanopore omicron |
| title | SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South America |
| title_full | SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South America |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South America |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South America |
| title_short | SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador—South America |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 infection in brown headed spider monkeys ateles fusciceps at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of ecuador south america |
| topic | Ecuador wildlife SARS-CoV-2 Ateles fusciceps Nanopore omicron |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02741-23 |
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