Limited IgM seroreactivity to arboviruses in free-ranging black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penicillata)

Arboviruses are important causes of human disease, and several species also infect wild animals that may serve as amplifying hosts. Among these, yellow fever virus (Orthoflavivirus flavi) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in neotropical primates. In addition to yellow fever virus, several other arboviruses have been reported in these animals. For example, zika virus (Orthoflavivirus zikaense) has been detected in free-ranging marmosets and capuchin monkeys. Antibodies against dengue virus (Orthoflavivirus denguei) have been identified in Alouatta spp. and Ateles spp., while Sapajus spp., Ateles marginatus, and Callithrix jacchus have been shown to develop neutralizing antibodies against chikungunya virus (Alphavirus chikungunya). In this study we assessed anti-arboviruses (A. chikungunya, O. zikaense, O.Denguei, and O. flavi) antibodies in free-ranging black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) living in urban parks. Frequency of putative seroreactivity was low with 2.94% (2/68) of the captured marmosets seroreactive to A. chikungunya (IgM) and 1.47% (1/68) seroreactive to O. zikaense (IgM). One marmoset was seroreactive to both viruses (A. chikungunya and O. zikaense). Arboviruses genomic sequences were not detected in serum samples, but seroreactive animals were not tested by RT-PCR due to sample limitation. This study demonstrated limited evidence of putative seroreactivity of free-ranging black-tufted marmosets to arboviruses in an area where these viruses are endemic in the human population.