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Hamsters as a Model of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2

Authors :
Sarah E. Beck
Jason S Villano
Katie R Mulka
Patrick S. Creisher
Alvaro A. Ordonez
Alicia M. Braxton
Santosh Dhakal
Camilo A. Ruiz-Bedoya
Sanjay K. Jain
Source :
Comp Med
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), rapidly spread across the world in late 2019, leading to a pandemic. While SARS-CoV-2 infections predominately affect the respiratory system, severe infections can lead to renal and cardiac injury and even death. Due to its highly transmissible nature and severe health implications, animal models of SARS-CoV-2 are critical to developing novel therapeutics and preventatives. Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)are an ideal animal model of SARS-CoV-2 infections because they recapitulate many aspects of human infections. After inoculation with SARS-CoV-2, hamsters become moribund, lose weight, and show varying degrees of respiratory disease, lethargy, and ruffled fur. Histopathologically, their pulmonary lesions are consistent with human infections including interstitial to broncho-interstitial pneumonia, alveolar hemorrhage and edema, and granulocyte infiltration. Similar to humans, the duration of clinical signs and pulmonary pathology are short lived with rapid recovery by 14 d after infection. Immunocompromised hamsters develop more severe infections and mortality. Preclinical studies in hamsters have shown efficacy of therapeutics, including convalescent serum treatment, and preventatives, including vaccination, in limiting or preventing clinical disease. Although hamster studies have contributed greatly to our understanding of the pathogenesis and progression of disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection, additional studies are required to better characterize the effects of age, sex, and virus variants on clinical outcomes in hamsters. This review aims to describe key findings from studies of hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to highlight areas that need further investigation.

Details

ISSN :
2769819X
Volume :
71
Issue :
5
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Comparative medicine
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....7581b229b2b00ebdd7ca6c022e9ea20c