Replication of SARS coronavirus administered into the respiratory tract of African Green, rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys.
SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) administered intranasally and intratracheally to rhesus, cynomolgus and African Green monkeys (AGM) replicated in the respiratory tract but did not induce illness. The titer of serum neutralizing antibodies correlated with the level of virus replication in the respiratory tract (AGM>cynomolgus>rhesus). Moderate to high titers of SARS-CoV with associated interstitial pneumonitis were detected in the lungs of AGMs on day 2 and were resolving by day 4 post-infection. Following challenge of AGMs 2 months later, virus replication was highly restricted and there was no evidence of enhanced disease. These species will be useful for the evaluation of the immunogenicity of candidate vaccines, but the lack of apparent clinical illness in all three species, variability from animal to animal in level of viral replication, and rapid clearance of virus and pneumonitis in AGMs must be taken into account by investigators considering the use of these species in efficacy and challenge studies.
McAuliffe
Josephine
J
Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, NIAID, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Vogel
Leatrice
L
Roberts
Anjeanette
A
Fahle
Gary
G
Fischer
Steven
S
Shieh
Wun-Ju
WJ
Butler
Emily
E
Zaki
Sherif
S
St Claire
Marisa
M
Murphy
Brian
B
Subbarao
Kanta
K
D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001980:Bronchi / Q000821:virology; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000821:virology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000821:virology*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral