An animal model of SARS produced by infection of Macaca mulatta with SARS coronavirus.
A new SARS animal model was established by inoculating SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) into rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) through the nasal cavity. Pathological pulmonary changes were successively detected on days 5-60 after virus inoculation. All eight animals showed a transient fever 2-3 days after inoculation. Immunological, molecular biological, and pathological studies support the establishment of this SARS animal model. Firstly, SARS-CoV-specific IgGs were detected in the sera of macaques from 11 to 60 days after inoculation. Secondly, SARS-CoV RNA could be detected in pharyngeal swab samples using nested RT-PCR in all infected animals from 5 days after virus inoculation. Finally, histopathological changes of interstitial pneumonia were found in the lungs during the 60 days after viral inoculation: these changes were less marked at later time points, indicating that an active healing process together with resolution of an acute inflammatory response was taking place in these animals. This animal model should provide insight into the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-related pulmonary disease and greatly facilitate the development of vaccines and therapeutics against SARS.
Qin
Chuan
C
Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing, China, 100021.
Wang
Jianwei
J
Wei
Qiang
Q
She
Mingpeng
M
Marasco
Wayne A
WA
Jiang
Hong
H
Tu
Xinming
X
Zhu
Hua
H
Ren
Lili
L
Gao
Hong
H
Guo
Li
L
Huang
Lan
L
Yang
Renquan
R
Cong
Zhe
Z
Guo
Lan
L
Wang
Yanbin
Y
Liu
Yali
Y
Sun
Yili
Y
Duan
Shumin
S
Qu
Jianguo
J
Chen
Liangbiao
L
Tong
Wei
W
Ruan
Li
L
Liu
Peimao
P
Zhang
Hua
H
Zhang
Jianmin
J
Zhang
Huiyuan
H
Liu
Depei
D
Liu
Qian
Q
Hong
Tao
T
He
Wei
W
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D010614:Pharynx / Q000821:virology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000473:pathology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014779:Virus Replication
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012367:RNA, Viral