Fatal yellow fever among captive non-human primates in southern Colombia, 2025
BackgroundYellow fever virus (YFV) remains a re-emerging zoonotic threat in South America. While epizootics in free-ranging Alouatta spp. are well-documented, little is known about YFV infection in other Neotropical non-human primates (NHPs), particularly in captive settings. Here, we report eight N...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| author | Ivan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana Catherin Lorena Solarte-Jimenez Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana Marixa Belisario-Tovar Sidaly Ortega-Gómez Vilma Marielis Zambrano-Quenan Julian Camilo Perafan-Gomez Carlos Hernan Gomez-Ocampo Mayerly Delgado-Cajigas Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales |
| author_facet | Ivan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana Catherin Lorena Solarte-Jimenez Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana Marixa Belisario-Tovar Sidaly Ortega-Gómez Vilma Marielis Zambrano-Quenan Julian Camilo Perafan-Gomez Carlos Hernan Gomez-Ocampo Mayerly Delgado-Cajigas Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales |
| author_sort | Ivan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundYellow fever virus (YFV) remains a re-emerging zoonotic threat in South America. While epizootics in free-ranging Alouatta spp. are well-documented, little is known about YFV infection in other Neotropical non-human primates (NHPs), particularly in captive settings. Here, we report eight NHP fatalities associated with YFV occurring in early 2025, in the Colombian department of Putumayo, a known endemic area.Cases descriptionBetween February and May 2025, eight fatal YFV cases were confirmed via RT-PCR in four NHP genera—Cebus albifrons, Ateles fusciceps (IUCN-endangered), Lagothrix lagotricha (vulnerable), and Aotus spp.—housed at wildlife centers or found nearby. Clinical signs included jaundice, lethargy, dyspnea, and mucosal pallor. Gross pathology revealed multisystemic involvement, with frequent hepatic necrosis, myocarditis, pulmonary edema, and severe parasitism. Histopathological examination in three representative cases identified hallmark features of yellow fever hepatitis: midzonal to centrilobular necrosis, Councilman bodies, steatosis, and sinusoidal congestion. These findings confirm fulminant YFV infection in previously undocumented captive primate hosts.ConclusionThis report presents the first evidence of natural YFV infection in C. albifrons, A. fusciceps, and L. lagotricha under managed care conditions. The presence of YFV in endangered and vulnerable NHPs has critical implications for conservation and public health. Epizootic surveillance protocols must expand beyond Alouatta spp. to include a broader range of species and captive populations. Reinforced vector control, biosafety measures, and One Health-based interventions are urgently needed to prevent spillover and enhance preparedness for future outbreaks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c5d2b1751d8c40e89e9f1ee9eb8a104b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c5d2b1751d8c40e89e9f1ee9eb8a104b2025-08-21T09:13:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-08-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16554741655474Fatal yellow fever among captive non-human primates in southern Colombia, 2025Ivan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas0D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana1Catherin Lorena Solarte-Jimenez2Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana3Marixa Belisario-Tovar4Sidaly Ortega-Gómez5Vilma Marielis Zambrano-Quenan6Julian Camilo Perafan-Gomez7Carlos Hernan Gomez-Ocampo8Mayerly Delgado-Cajigas9Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales10Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales11Grupo de Investigación en Recursos Naturales Amazónicos GRAM, Institución Universitaria del Putumayo, Mocoa, ColombiaCollege of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of KoreaGrupo de Investigación en Recursos Naturales Amazónicos GRAM, Institución Universitaria del Putumayo, Mocoa, ColombiaGrupo de Virologia, Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, ColombiaVeterinarian Div., CEA CORPOAMAZONIA, Mocoa, ColombiaGeneral Direction, Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Sur de la Amazonia (CORPOAMAZONIA), Mocoa, ColombiaSubdirection of Environmental Administration, Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Sur de la Amazonia (CORPOAMAZONIA), Mocoa, ColombiaAdvisory Board Adjunct to General Direction, CORPOAMAZONIA, Mocoa, ColombiaVeterinarian Div., CEA CORPOAMAZONIA, Mocoa, ColombiaBiology Div., CEA CORPOAMAZONIA, Mocoa, ColombiaFaculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru0Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Faculty of Medicine, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de las Américas-Institución Universitaria Visión de las Américas, Pereira, ColombiaBackgroundYellow fever virus (YFV) remains a re-emerging zoonotic threat in South America. While epizootics in free-ranging Alouatta spp. are well-documented, little is known about YFV infection in other Neotropical non-human primates (NHPs), particularly in captive settings. Here, we report eight NHP fatalities associated with YFV occurring in early 2025, in the Colombian department of Putumayo, a known endemic area.Cases descriptionBetween February and May 2025, eight fatal YFV cases were confirmed via RT-PCR in four NHP genera—Cebus albifrons, Ateles fusciceps (IUCN-endangered), Lagothrix lagotricha (vulnerable), and Aotus spp.—housed at wildlife centers or found nearby. Clinical signs included jaundice, lethargy, dyspnea, and mucosal pallor. Gross pathology revealed multisystemic involvement, with frequent hepatic necrosis, myocarditis, pulmonary edema, and severe parasitism. Histopathological examination in three representative cases identified hallmark features of yellow fever hepatitis: midzonal to centrilobular necrosis, Councilman bodies, steatosis, and sinusoidal congestion. These findings confirm fulminant YFV infection in previously undocumented captive primate hosts.ConclusionThis report presents the first evidence of natural YFV infection in C. albifrons, A. fusciceps, and L. lagotricha under managed care conditions. The presence of YFV in endangered and vulnerable NHPs has critical implications for conservation and public health. Epizootic surveillance protocols must expand beyond Alouatta spp. to include a broader range of species and captive populations. Reinforced vector control, biosafety measures, and One Health-based interventions are urgently needed to prevent spillover and enhance preparedness for future outbreaks.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1655474/fullAtelesCebusLagothrixAotusflavivirusyellow fever |
| spellingShingle | Ivan Camilo Sanchez-Rojas D. Katterine Bonilla-Aldana Catherin Lorena Solarte-Jimenez Jorge Luis Bonilla-Aldana Marixa Belisario-Tovar Sidaly Ortega-Gómez Vilma Marielis Zambrano-Quenan Julian Camilo Perafan-Gomez Carlos Hernan Gomez-Ocampo Mayerly Delgado-Cajigas Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales Fatal yellow fever among captive non-human primates in southern Colombia, 2025 Frontiers in Veterinary Science Ateles Cebus Lagothrix Aotus flavivirus yellow fever |
| title | Fatal yellow fever among captive non-human primates in southern Colombia, 2025 |
| title_full | Fatal yellow fever among captive non-human primates in southern Colombia, 2025 |
| title_fullStr | Fatal yellow fever among captive non-human primates in southern Colombia, 2025 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fatal yellow fever among captive non-human primates in southern Colombia, 2025 |
| title_short | Fatal yellow fever among captive non-human primates in southern Colombia, 2025 |
| title_sort | fatal yellow fever among captive non human primates in southern colombia 2025 |
| topic | Ateles Cebus Lagothrix Aotus flavivirus yellow fever |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1655474/full |
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