Surveillance Service of Yellow Fever in Non-Human Primates in the Federal District, Brazil, 2008-2022

TL;DR

This study analyzes yellow fever surveillance in non-human primates in Brazil's Federal District from 2008 to 2022, highlighting its role in early detection and prevention.

Contribution

The study provides a 15-year retrospective analysis of yellow fever surveillance in non-human primates in Brazil's Federal District.

Findings

20 yellow fever-positive outbreaks were confirmed between 2008 and 2020, affecting 27 non-human primates.

Surveillance coverage expanded, with 96.7% of NHP deaths sampled for yellow fever testing.

Conclusive diagnoses increased by 60% in the last 5 years, with trauma and infectious diseases as leading causes of death.

Abstract

Surveillance of non-human primate (NHP) deaths is vital for the early
detection of yellow fever (YF) and prevention of its spread to the human
population. This study assessed the YF surveillance system for NHPs in the
Brazilian Federal District (FD) from 2008 to 2022.

A retrospective analysis of the aggregated data from 15 years of outbreak
surveillance involving NHP deaths was conducted. The analyzed variables
included spatiotemporal distribution, species, sex, age, sample collection,
cause of death, and YF test results.

In total, 1,175 outbreaks involving 1,353 NHP deaths were recorded, averaging
1.35 animals per outbreak, in urban and peri-urban areas. Twenty YF-positive
outbreaks were confirmed in 2008, 2015, and 2020, affecting 27 animals,
mainly adult Callithrix spp., with an overall YF positivity
rate of 2%. Surveillance coverage expanded across all administrative regions
of FD, with 96.7% of NHP deaths sampled for YF and pathological analysis.
Over the last 5 years, the rate of conclusive diagnoses has increased by
60%, with trauma and infectious diseases being the most common causes of
death.

The strategic location of FD reinforces the need for ongoing NHP death
surveillance as an early warning tool for patients with YF. Continued
enhancement of the diagnostic capacity and data integration is essential for
strengthening the prevention and control efforts of YF in Brazil.

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