Milagros Geanella Leiva Galarza

Ms. Milagros Geanella Leiva Galarza


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

3Years (2024-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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27 February 2024 in Animals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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AGAndrea Tavera Gonzales
Andrea Tavera Gonzales
Jhonathan Arturo Bazalar-GonzalesJhonathan Arturo Bazalar-Gonzales
Jhonathan Arturo Bazalar-Gonzales
TSThalía Silvestre
Thalía Silvestre
MGMilagros Geanella Leiva Galarza
Milagros Geanella Leiva Galarza
CCCarmen Lizeth Rodríguez Cueva
Carmen Lizeth Rodríguez Cueva
LMLenin Maturrano-Hernández
Lenin Maturrano-Hernández
Human-to-animal transmission events of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) have been reported in both domestic and wild species worldwide. Despite the high rates of contagion and mortality during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Diseases 2019) pandemic in Peru, no instances of natural virus infection have been documented in wild animals, particularly in the Amazonian regions where human–wildlife interactions are prevalent. In this study, we conducted a surveillance investigation using viral RNA sequencing of fecal samples collected from 76 captive and semi-captive non-human primates (NHPs) in the Loreto, Ucayali, and Madre de Dios regions between August 2022 and February 2023. We detected a segment of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of SARS-CoV-2 by metagenomic sequencing in a pooled fecal sample from captive white-fronted capuchins (Cebus unicolor) at a rescue center in Bello Horizonte, Ucayali. Phylogenetic analysis further confirmed that the retrieved partial sequence of the RdRp gene matched the SARS-CoV-2 genome. This study represents the first documented instance of molecular SARS-CoV-2 detection in NHPs in the Peruvian Amazon, underscoring the adverse impact of anthropic activities on the human–NHP interface and emphasizing the importance of ongoing surveillance for early detection and prediction of future emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in animals.