title: Asymptomatic Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in rabbits.
abstract: The ability of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) to infect small animal species may be restricted given the fact that mice, ferrets, and hamsters were shown to resist MERS-CoV infection. We inoculated rabbits with MERS-CoV. Although virus was detected in the lungs, neither significant histopathological changes nor clinical symptoms were observed. Infectious virus, however, was excreted from the upper respiratory tract, indicating a potential route of MERS-CoV transmission in some animal species.
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands b.haagmans@erasmusmc.nl.
authors: Bart L
authors: BL
authors: Haagmans
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Judith M A
authors: JM
authors: van den Brand
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Lisette B
authors: LB
authors: Provacia
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: V Stalin
authors: VS
authors: Raj
authors: Viroclinics Biosciences, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Koert J
authors: KJ
authors: Stittelaar
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Getu
authors: Viroclinics Biosciences, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Leon
authors: L
authors: de Waal
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Theo M
authors: TM
authors: Bestebroer
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Geert
authors: G
authors: van Amerongen
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Georges M G M
authors: GM
authors: Verjans
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Ron A M
authors: RA
authors: Fouchier
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands Viroclinics Biosciences, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Saskia L
authors: SL
authors: Smits
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Thijs
authors: T
authors: Kuiken
authors: Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands Viroclinics Biosciences, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: Albert D M E
authors: AD
authors: Osterhaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011817:Rabbits; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000821:virology; D017201:Virus Shedding