Investigação molecular de Flavivirus em primatas não-humanos atendidos no ambulatório de animais silvestres da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of genetic material of Flavivirus in blood samples from non-human primates treated from 2013 to 2018 at the wildlife center of the Federal University of Uberlândia, using the RT-PCR technique. Thirty samples were analyzed, 28 of black-tufted marmoset (Callithrix penicillata), one of black-striped capuchin (Sapajus libidinosus) and one of black howler (Alouatta caraya), most of urban areas of the Triângulo Mineiro. None of the samples were positive. These results do not exclude the infection, they only demonstrate that the animals did not go through the viremia phase and, therefore, were not a source of infection for vectors, since some were reintroduced or sent to the zoological garden after the care or treatment period. The introduction of Flavivirus research by RT-PCR as a pre-release assessment of NHP treated at wildlife centers would be critical for the surveillance of the circulation of these arboviruses.