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Carvajal M, Saenz C, Fuentes N, Guevara R, Muñoz E, Prado-Vivar B, Diaz E, Alfonso-Cortes F, Coloma J, Grunauer M, Rojas-Silva P, Cardenas PA, Barragan V. SARS-CoV-2 infection in brown-headed spider monkeys ( Ateles fusciceps) at a wildlife rescue center on the coast of Ecuador-South America. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0274123. [PMID: 38364080 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02741-23] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Human 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateo Carvajal
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Carolina Saenz
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Hospital de Fauna Silvestre TUERI-USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Rommel Guevara
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Erika Muñoz
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Belen Prado-Vivar
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Eduardo Diaz
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | | | - Michelle Grunauer
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Escuela de Medicina, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Paul A Cardenas
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Veronica Barragan
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto de Microbiología, Quito, Ecuador
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Guayasamin JM, Vandegrift R, Policha T, Encalada AC, Greene N, Ríos-Touma B, Endara L, Cárdenas RE, Larreátegui F, Baquero L, Arcos I, Cueva J, Peck M, Alfonso-Cortes F, Thomas D, DeCoux J, Levy E, Roy BA. Biodiversity conservation: local and global consequences of the application of “rights of nature” by Ecuador. Neotropical Biodiversity 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2021.2006550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Juan M. Guayasamin
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA,Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto Biósfera, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Roo Vandegrift
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Tobias Policha
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Andrea C. Encalada
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA,Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto Biósfera, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Natalia Greene
- Coordinadora Ecuatoriana de Organizaciones Para La Defensa de La Naturaleza Y Cedenma and Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature, Ecuador
| | - Blanca Ríos-Touma
- Grupo de Investigación En Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente Y Salud (Biomas), Universidad de Las Américas, Ecuador
| | - Lorena Endara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Rafael E. Cárdenas
- Museo de Zoología QCAZ, Laboratorio de Entomología, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Luis Baquero
- Grupo de Investigación En Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente Y Salud (Biomas), Universidad de Las Américas, Ecuador
| | - Inty Arcos
- Mancomunidad Del Chocó Andino, Consorcio Para El Desarrollo Sostenible de La Ecoregión Andina (CONDESAN), Fundación Imaymana, Ecuador
| | - José Cueva
- Estación Científica Los Cedros, Cotacachi, Ecuador
| | - Mika Peck
- Ecology, Behaviour and Environment, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | | | | | - José DeCoux
- Estación Científica Los Cedros, Cotacachi, Ecuador
| | - Elisa Levy
- Estación Científica Los Cedros, Cotacachi, Ecuador
| | - Bitty A. Roy
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
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