Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in Black-Horned Capuchin Monkeys, Brazil

We carried out a viral surveillance study on 30 black-horned capuchin monkeys ( Sapajus nigritus ) in Rio Doce State Park, a protected area in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Samples were tested for orthopoxviruses, flaviviruses, coronaviruses, influenza viruses, and a wide range of other respiratory viruses using molecular and serological methods. RT-qPCR detected the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) genome in oral swabs from two asymptomatic juvenile females sampled in an area with high human interaction. This finding indicates a possible exposure of an population to RSV, a contagious human pathogen, and highlights the importance of increased surveillance at the human–wildlife interface.