Isolation and characterization of viruses related to the SARS coronavirus from animals in southern China.

Guan, Y; Zheng, B J; He, Y Q; Liu, X L; Zhuang, Z X; Cheung, C L; Luo, S W; Li, P H et al. · Science · 2003

case_control · Level III

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Abstract

A novel coronavirus (SCoV) is the etiological agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). SCoV-like viruses were isolated from Himalayan palm civets found in a live-animal market in Guangdong, China. Evidence of virus infection was also detected in other animals (including a raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides) and in humans working at the same market. All the animal isolates retain a 29-nucleotide sequence that is not found in most human isolates. The detection of SCoV-like viruses in small, live wild mammals in a retail market indicates a route of interspecies transmission, although the natural reservoir is not known.

Medical subject headings