Asymptomatic Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in rabbits
Publication date
2015-06
Authors
Haagmans, Bart L
van den Brand, Judith M A
Provacia, Lisette B
Raj, V Stalin
Stittelaar, Koert J
Getu, Sarah
de Waal, Leon
Bestebroer, Theo M
Amerongen, Geert van
Verjans, Georges M G M
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Document Type
Article
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Abstract
The ability of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) to infect small animal species may be restricted given the fact that mice, ferrets, and hamsters were shown to resist MERS-CoV infection. We inoculated rabbits with MERS-CoV. Although virus was detected in the lungs, neither significant histopathological changes nor clinical symptoms were observed. Infectious virus, however, was excreted from the upper respiratory tract, indicating a potential route of MERS-CoV transmission in some animal species.
Keywords
Animals, Asymptomatic Diseases, Coronavirus Infections, Cricetinae, Disease Models, Animal, Female, Lung, Mice, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Rabbits, Respiratory System, Virus Shedding, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Citation
Haagmans, B L, van den Brand, J M A, Provacia, L B, Raj, V S, Stittelaar, K J, Getu, S, de Waal, L, Bestebroer, T M, Amerongen, G V, Verjans, G M G M, Fouchier, R A M, Smits, S L, Kuiken, T & Osterhaus, A D M E 2015, 'Asymptomatic Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in rabbits', Journal of Virology, vol. 89, no. 11, pp. 6131-5. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00661-15