No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Neotropical Primates sampled during COVID-19 pandemic in Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

In 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.