Dose-dependent response to infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the ferret model and evidence of protective immunity.
Nat Commun
; 12(1): 81, 2021 01 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33398055
ABSTRACT
There is a vital need for authentic COVID-19 animal models to enable the pre-clinical evaluation of candidate vaccines and therapeutics. Here we report a dose titration study of SARS-CoV-2 in the ferret model. After a high (5 × 106 pfu) and medium (5 × 104 pfu) dose of virus is delivered, intranasally, viral RNA shedding in the upper respiratory tract (URT) is observed in 6/6 animals, however, only 1/6 ferrets show similar signs after low dose (5 × 102 pfu) challenge. Following sequential culls pathological signs of mild multifocal bronchopneumonia in approximately 5-15% of the lung is seen on day 3, in high and medium dosed groups. Ferrets re-challenged, after virus shedding ceased, are fully protected from acute lung pathology. The endpoints of URT viral RNA replication & distinct lung pathology are observed most consistently in the high dose group. This ferret model of SARS-CoV-2 infection presents a mild clinical disease.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Disease Models, Animal
/
Ferrets
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom