1
|
Musoles-Cuenca B, Aguiló-Gisbert J, Lorenzo-Bermejo T, Canales R, Ballester B, Romani-Cremaschi U, Martínez-Valverde R, Maiques E, Marteles D, Rueda P, Rubio V, Villanueva-Saz S, Rubio-Guerri C. Molecular and Serological Studies on Potential SARS-CoV-2 Infection among 43 Lemurs under Human Care-Evidence for Past Infection in at Least One Individual. Animals (Basel) 2023; 14:140. [PMID: 38200871 PMCID: PMC10778278 DOI: 10.3390/ani14010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In the setting of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to animals has been reported in both domestic and wild animals and is a matter of concern. Given the genetic and functional similarities to humans, non-human primates merit particular attention. In the case of lemurs, generally considered endangered, they are believed to be susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. We have conducted a study for evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the 43 lemurs of Mundomar, a zoological park in Benidorm, Spain. They belong to two endangered lemur species, 23 black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) and 20 ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). Health assessments conducted in 2022 and 2023 included molecular analyses for SARS-CoV-2 RNA of oral and rectal swabs using two different RT-qPCR assays, always with negative results for SARS-CoV-2 in all animals. The assessment also included serological testing for antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2, which again yielded negative results in all animals except one black-and-white ruffed lemur, supporting prior infection of that animal with SARS-CoV-2. Our data, while not indicating a high susceptibility of lemurs to SARS-CoV-2 infection, show that they can be infected, adding to the existing information body on potential ways for SARS-CoV-2 virus spreading in zoos, highlighting the need for animal surveillance for the virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Musoles-Cuenca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46113 Valencia, Spain; (B.M.-C.); (T.L.-B.); (B.B.); (E.M.)
| | - Jordi Aguiló-Gisbert
- Servicio de Análisis, Investigación, Gestión de Animales Silvestres (SAIGAS), Veterinary Faculty, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46113 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Teresa Lorenzo-Bermejo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46113 Valencia, Spain; (B.M.-C.); (T.L.-B.); (B.B.); (E.M.)
| | - Rocío Canales
- Veterinary Department, Mundomar Benidorm, 03503 Alicante, Spain; (R.C.); (U.R.-C.)
| | - Beatriz Ballester
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46113 Valencia, Spain; (B.M.-C.); (T.L.-B.); (B.B.); (E.M.)
| | | | | | - Elisa Maiques
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46113 Valencia, Spain; (B.M.-C.); (T.L.-B.); (B.B.); (E.M.)
| | - Diana Marteles
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.M.); (P.R.)
| | - Pablo Rueda
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.M.); (P.R.)
| | - Vicente Rubio
- Department of Genomics and Proteomics, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Group 739, IBV-CSIC, Centre for Biomedical Network Research, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERER-ISCIII), 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Clinical Immunology Laboratory, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain; (D.M.); (P.R.)
| | - Consuelo Rubio-Guerri
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46113 Valencia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|