Lack of molecular evidence of fecal-borne viruses in capybaras from Sao Paulo state, Brazil, 2018-2020: a minor public health issue

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de Azevedo, Lais Sampaio ; Franca, Yasmin ; Viana, Ellen ; Medeiros, Roberta Salzone ; Morillo, Simone Guadagnucci ; Guiducci, Raquel ; Ribeiro, Cibele Daniel ; Vieira, Heloisa Rosa ; Barrio-Nuevo, Karolina Morales ; Cunha, Mariana Sequetin ; Guerra, Juliana Mariotti ; Castro e Silva, Dulcilena de Matos ; Duo Filho, Valter Batista ; Lima Araujo, Emerson Luiz ; Santos Ferreira, Sergio Roberto ; Batista, Camila Freitas ; Dutra da Silva, Gislaine Celestino ; Nogueira, Mauricio Lacerda ; Ahagon, Cintia Mayumi ; Moreira, Regina Celia ; Cunha, Lia ; Morais, Vanessa Santos ; da Costa, Antonio Charlys ; Luchs, Adriana

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Microbiology; v. N/A, p. 9-pg., 2022-11-07.

Abstract

Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the world's largest rodent species distributed throughout South America. These animals are incredibly tolerant to anthropogenic environments and are occupying large urban centers. Capybaras are known to carry potentially zoonotic agents, including R. rickettsia, Leishmania spp., Leptospira spp., Trypanosoma spp., Salmonella spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and rabies virus. Focusing on the importance of monitoring potential sources of emerging zoonotic viruses and new viral reservoirs, the aim of the present study was to assess the presence of fecal-borne viruses in the feces of capybaras living in urban parks in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. A total of 337 fecal samples were collected between 2018 and 2020 and screened for the following: (i) Rotavirus group A (RVA) by ELISA; (ii) non-RVA species and Picobirnavirus (PBV) using PAGE; (iii) Human Bocaparvovirus (HBoV), Bufavirus (BuV), Tusavirus (TuV), and Cutavirus (CuV) qPCR; (iv) Human Enterovirus (EV), Norovirus GII (NoV), and Hantavirus by in houses RT-qPCR; (v) SARS-CoV-2 via commercial RT-qPCR kit assay; and (vi) Astrovirus (AstV) and Adenovirus (AdV) using conventional nested (RT)-PCRs. All fecal samples tested were negative for fecal-borne viruses. This study adds further evidence that the fecal-borne viruses is a minor public health issue in Brazilian capybaras, at least during the surveillance period and surveyed areas. Continuous monitoring of sylvatic animals is essential to prevent and control the emergence or re-emergence of newly discovered virus as well as viruses with known zoonotic potential. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/14786-0 - Surveillance and molecular epidemiology of human Bocaviruses associated with acute gastroenteritis
• Grantee: Adriana Luchs
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/02469-0 - Full genotype constellation of five rare G12P[9] rotavirus strains detected in Brazil during 2011-2013
• Grantee: Yasmin França Viana Pires de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 15/12944-9 - Investigating the evoltution of animal rotavirus strains infecting humans
• Grantee: Adriana Luchs
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 20/11182-6 - Molecular epidemiology of G8 rotavirus strains isolated in Brazil associated with P[4], P[6] or P[8] genotypes
• Grantee: Roberta Salzone Medeiros
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 19/21706-5 - Viral metagenomics of mosquitoes captured in the State of São Paulo
• Grantee: Vanessa dos Santos Morais
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)