SARS-CoV-2-related pangolin coronavirus exhibits similar infection characteristics to SARS-CoV-2 and direct contact transmissibility in hamsters
Zhendong Guo, Cheng Zhang, Chunmao Zhang, Huan Cui, Zhaoliang Chen, Xinyun Jiang, Tiecheng Wang, Yuanguo Li, Jun Liu, Zhonghai Wan, Keyin Meng, Jiping Li, Yigang Tong, Yuwei Gao
Abstract
(Linnaeus, 1758) and compared it with SARS-CoV-2. Pangolin-CoV could effectively infect hamsters, showed similar tissue tropism to SARS-CoV-2 and replicated efficiently in the respiratory system and brain. The infected hamsters had no weight loss but had obvious viral shedding and lung pathological injury. Notably, Pangolin-CoV could transmit between hamsters by direct contact but not via aerosols, and the infected hamsters could exhale infectious viral aerosols (>1 μm). These results highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of coronaviruses in pangolins owing to the potential threat of Pangolin-CoV to human health.