Detection of Coronavirus-like Particles in Wild, Exotic and Captive Animals by Transmission Electron Microscopy

• Main Authors: Catroxo, M.H.B., Martins, A.M.C.R.P.F., Miranda, L.B., Milanelo, L., Santos, E.M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Zenodo 2022
• Subjects: Coronavirus; wild; exotic and captive animals; Transmission electron microscopy; agriculture journal; Falco peregrinus
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6402179

Abstract — Coronaviruses infect humans and a wide diversity of mammalian and bird species causing respiratory, enteric, neurologic and hepatic disorders. Due to their facility of adapting to new species and establishing sppilover events, coronaviruses pose a risk to global public health. Considering the zoonotic risk of coronaviruses, their role in wild species that host wild animals, as well as their ability to adapt to new species, seems to be the fundamental key to understanding their pathophysiology. The objective of this work was to report the presence of coronavirus-like particles in wild, exotic and captive animal species, in fecal or small intestine samples, using negative staining technique for transmission electron microscopy. Under the transmission electron microscope, particles with coronavirus-like morphology, pleomorphic, rounded or elongated with radial projections forming a corona and measuring 80-140 nm in diameter, were visualized in all examined samples. This report is the first worldwide occurrence of coronaviruses in Falco peregrinus, Tayassu tajacu and Tayassu pecari and the first occurrence in Brazil in Sus scrofa, Nosua nosua, Puma concolor and in Rhea Americana.