Dose-dependent response to infection with SARS-CoV-2 in the ferret model and evidence of protective immunity.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 33398055.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-20439-y and PMC identifier 7782478.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
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 × 10<sup>6</sup> pfu) and medium (5 × 10<sup>4</sup> 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 × 10<sup>2</sup> 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.
Medical subject headings
- COVID-19
- Disease Models, Animal
- Ferrets
- SARS-CoV-2