Absence of coronavirus RNA in faecal samples from wild primates in Gabon, Central Africa Mombo I. M. auteur aut IRD Rieu O. auteur aut IRD Fritz Matthieu auteur aut IRD Boundenga L. auteur aut IRD Mebaley T. N. auteur aut IRD Mbou-Boutambe C. auteur aut IRD Lenguiya L. H. auteur aut IRD Maganga G. D. auteur aut IRD Rougeron V. auteur aut IRD Prugnolle F. auteur aut IRD Thomas F. auteur aut IRD Leroy Eric auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Coronaviruses (CoVs, Coronaviridae) are a diverse group of viruses that infect mammals, birds, and fish. Seven CoVs infect humans, among which Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoVs-1 and -2 and Middle East respiratory syndrome CoVs have shown how they can impact global health and the economy. Their spillover from bats-the natural reservoir-to humans has required intermediary hosts. Prevention requires that active surveillance be conducted on animals. Today, there is no data concerning the genetic diversity of CoVs naturally circulating in wild primates. This study aimed to screen wild great apes and mandrills in Gabon for CoVs. A total of 229 faecal samples of great apes and mandrills collected from 2009 to 2012 in forests and national parks were used for the detection of CoVs by nested PCR using primers targeting a conserved region of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. While all samples were negative, this lack of detection could be related to sample size, the transient nature of the infection, or because faecal samples are not suitable for detecting CoVs in primates. A longitudinal study should be performed and other non-invasive methods used to collect respiratory samples to better evaluate the circulation of CoVs in these primates. specialized coronaviruses chimpanzee gorilla mandrill surveillance zoonosis GABON 052 080 Pathogens 12 10 1272 [6 p.] 2023 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088630 10.3390/pathogens12101272 [F B010088630] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010088630 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2023-12/010088630.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2023-12-15 2026-06-12 fdi:010088630 fre