Research Article
Paulo MB, Renato A, Tatiana
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of arboviruses that could potentially cause outbreaks and epidemics and negatively affect publichealth in free-living non-human primates (NHP). The study was conducted in the municipality of Mundo Novo, on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, Bodoquena, Jardim and Coxim, both in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Samples (n=47) of asymptomatic NHP were analyzed using the Hemagglutination Inhibition Test (HIT) and molecular biology techniques. All samples from Mundo Novo were positive for viruses belonging to the genus Flavivirus in the serology and negative in the molecular and virological tests. From the samples of the Jardim municipality (n=14), one was positive for viruses belonging to the genus Flavivirus, one was positive for viruses belonging to the genus Alphavirus and two were positive for Mayaro virus. From the samples of the Coxim municipality (n=8), four were positive for viruses belonging to the genus Flavivirus and two were positive for Mayaro virus in the serology. The positive results in the serology demonstrated that the animals were infected by Flavivirus and Mayaro viruses at some point in their lives. Conversely, the negative results found by the molecular techniques indicated that the animals were not infected at the time of sample collection.