Viruses, Vol. 11, Pages 381: Lack of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Transmission in Rabbits

In this study, we used rabbits to further characterize the transmission potential of MERS-CoV. In line with the presence of MERS-CoV receptor in the rabbit nasal epithelium, high levels of viral RNA were shed from the nose following virus inoculation. However, unlike MERS-CoV-infected dromedaries, these rabbits did not develop clinical manifestations including nasal discharge and did shed only limited amounts of infectious virus from the nose. Consistently, no transmission by contact or airborne routes was observed in rabbits. Our data indicate that despite relatively high viral RNA levels produced, low levels of infectious virus are excreted in the upper respiratory tract of rabbits as compared to dromedary camels, thus resulting in a lack of viral transmission.

Source: Viruses - April 23, 2019 Category: Virology Authors: W. Widagdo Nisreen M. A. Okba Mathilde Richard Dennis de Meulder Theo M. Bestebroer Pascal Lexmond Elmoubasher A. B. A. Farag Mohammed Al-Hajri Koert J. Stittelaar Leon de Waal Geert van Amerongen Judith M. A. van den Brand Bart L. Haagmans Sander Herfst Tags: Article Source Type: research