Thecoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19)pandemic continues to pose a global threat to the human population. Identifying animal species susceptible to infection with the SARS-CoV-2/HCoV-19 pathogen is essential for controll...Thecoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19)pandemic continues to pose a global threat to the human population. Identifying animal species susceptible to infection with the SARS-CoV-2/HCoV-19 pathogen is essential for controlling the outbreak and for testing valid prophylactics or therapeutics based on animal model studies. Here,different aged Chinese tree shrews(adult group, 1 year old;old group, 5–6 years old), which are close relatives to primates, were infected with SARS-CoV-2. X-ray, viral shedding, laboratory, and histological analyses were performed on different days postinoculation(dpi). Results showed that Chinese tree shrews could be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Lung infiltrates were visible in X-ray radiographs in most infected animals. Viral RNA was consistently detected in lung tissues from infected animals at 3,5, and 7 dpi, along with alterations in related parameters from routine blood tests and serum biochemistry, including increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and blood urea nitrogen(BUN). Histological analysis of lung tissues from animals at 3 dpi(adult group) and 7 dpi(old group) showed thickened alveolar septa and interstitial hemorrhage. Several differences were found between the two different aged groups in regard to viral shedding peak. Our results indicate that Chinese tree shrews have the potential to be used as animal models for SARS-CoV-2 infection.展开更多
基金partly supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2020YFC0842000 to Y.T.Z.)National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1902215 to Y.G.Y.)+2 种基金National Science and Technology Major Projects of Infectious Disease Funds(2017ZX10304402 to Y.T.Z.)Yunnan Province(2018FB046 to D.D.Y.)CAS“Light of West China”Program(xbzg-zdsys-201909to Y.G.Y.and Y.T.Z.)。
文摘Thecoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19)pandemic continues to pose a global threat to the human population. Identifying animal species susceptible to infection with the SARS-CoV-2/HCoV-19 pathogen is essential for controlling the outbreak and for testing valid prophylactics or therapeutics based on animal model studies. Here,different aged Chinese tree shrews(adult group, 1 year old;old group, 5–6 years old), which are close relatives to primates, were infected with SARS-CoV-2. X-ray, viral shedding, laboratory, and histological analyses were performed on different days postinoculation(dpi). Results showed that Chinese tree shrews could be infected by SARS-CoV-2. Lung infiltrates were visible in X-ray radiographs in most infected animals. Viral RNA was consistently detected in lung tissues from infected animals at 3,5, and 7 dpi, along with alterations in related parameters from routine blood tests and serum biochemistry, including increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and blood urea nitrogen(BUN). Histological analysis of lung tissues from animals at 3 dpi(adult group) and 7 dpi(old group) showed thickened alveolar septa and interstitial hemorrhage. Several differences were found between the two different aged groups in regard to viral shedding peak. Our results indicate that Chinese tree shrews have the potential to be used as animal models for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
