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Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Three Species of Non-Human Primates
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences - State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology; Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC) - National Kunming High-Level Biosafety Primate Research Center
Background: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, has recently been announced as a pandemic all over the world. Remarkable achievements have been made in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of COVID-19 from clinical studies. However, animal models, particularly non-human primate models, are urgently needed for critical questions that could not be answered in clinical patients, evaluations of anti-viral drugs and vaccines.
Methods: Two families of three species of non-human primates (NHP), old world monkeys (Macaca mulatta, Macaca fascicularis) and new world monkeys (Callithrix jacchus), were experimentally inoculated with SARS-CoV-2. Clinical signs were recorded. Samples were collected for analysis of viral shedding, viremia and evaluation of host responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Findings: Increased body temperature was observed in M. mulatta and M. fascicularis, but not C. jacchus post inoculation of SARS-CoV-2. All of M. mulatta and M. fascicularis showed chest radiographic abnormality. Viral genomes were detected in swab samples and blood from all 3 species of monkeys. Viral shedding from upper respiratory reached the peak between day 6 and day 8 post inoculation. Viruses were mainly detected in lung, weasand, bronchus and spleen of M. mulatta and M. fascicularis, but not C. jacchus. M. mulatta showed stronger cytokine responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection than M. fascicularis. Severe gross lesions and histopathological changes were observed mainly in lung and secondary lymphoid of SARS-CoV-2 infected M. mulatta and M. fascicularis. The susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection is M. mulatta > M. fascicularis > C. jacchus.
Interpretations: We have established a NHP model for COVID-19, which recapitulates several important aspects of COVID-19 patients and could be used to evaluate anti-viral drugs and vaccines, and investigate viral pathogenesis.
Funding Statement: This study was supported by 2020YFC0841100 and 2020YFC0846400.
Declaration of Interests: None.
Ethics Approval Statement: All animal procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science (Ethics number: DWSP202002 001), and performed in the ABSL-4 facility of National Kunming High-level Biosafety Primate Research Center, Yunnan China.
Lu, Shuaiyao and Zhao, Yuan and Yu, Wenhai and Yang, Yun and Gao, Jiahong and Wang, Junbin and Kuang, Dexuan and Yang, Mengli and Yang, Jing and Ma, Chunxia and Xu, Jingwen and Qian, Xingli and Li, Haiyan and Zhao, Siwen and Li, Jingmei and Wang, Haixuan and Long, Haiting and Zhou, Jingxian and Luo, Fangyu and Ding, Kaiyun and Wu, Daoju and Zhang, Yong and Dong, Yinliang and Liu, Yuqin and Zheng, Yinqiu and Lin, Xiaochen and Jiao, Li and Zheng, Huanying and Dai, Qing and Sun, Qiangming and Hu, Yunzhang and Ke, Changwen and Liu, Hongqi and Peng, Xiaozhong, Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Three Species of Non-Human Primates (4/17/2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3578773 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3578773
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences - State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology ( email )
Beijing China 011-86-871-68334521 (Phone) 011-86-871-68334483 (Fax)
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC) - National Kunming High-Level Biosafety Primate Research Center ( email )
935 Jiaoling Road Kunming, Yunnan China 011-86-871-68334521 (Phone) 011-86-871-68334483 (Fax)
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