First Report of H5n3 Infection in a Captive Group of Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus Imperator)

Abstract Influenza A viruses cause respiratory infections that range from asymptomatic to deadly in humans. Non-human primates (NHPs) are susceptible to infection with a number of influenza A isolates, including viruses of the H3N2, H5N1 and H1N1 subtypes. A 9-year-old emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator 0.1) presented acute respiratory distress and apathy. The animal died 24 hours after first clinical signs. A necropsy was performed and showed severe pulmonary congestion associated with thoracic and abdominal effusion. Bacterial and parasitological testing on different organ was negative. Unfortunately, no histological analysis was performed. However, a PCR analysis on lungs showed the presence of H5N3 virus. All the callitrichids that lived with this emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator 0.1) : three emperor tamarins (Saguinus imperator 0.3) and three pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea 3.0) were sampled. Anti-Influenza A antibodies were found in all three emperor tamarins (Saguinus imperator 0.3) but not in the three pygmy marmosets (Cebuella pygmaea 3.0). All sera were negative for SARS-COV-2 analysis. The three emperor tamarins (Saguinus imperator 0.3) remained asymptomatic, and no treatment was given to them. All avian species in the zoo are vaccinated against influenza and no birds showed respiratory signs. An epidemiological survey is in progress to determine how the infection occurred. This condition has, to the best of our knowledge, not been reported in the literature.