Lung infection in orally inoculated SARS-CoV-2 hamsters.

Picard-Meyer, Evelyne; Wasniewski, Marine; Boué, Franck; Torres-Maravilla, Edgar; Saint-Criq, Vinciane; Larcher, Thibaut; Beissat, Kevyn; Jacouton, Elsa et al. · PLoS One · 2025

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The digestive tropism of SARS-CoV-2 due to the presence of the same ACE2 receptor in the digestive system as in the respiratory system raised the question of the role of fecal-oral transmission in the pandemic. The aim of this study was to explore oral infection in hamsters model. SARS-CoV-2 inoculation via the oral and intranasal routes resulted in comparable infection in hamsters. In addition to implications for human health, oral infection could have implications for potential animal reservoirs.

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