Transient Lymphopenia and Interstitial Pneumonia With Endotheliitis in SARS-CoV-2–Infected Macaques
Bon‐Sang Koo, Hanseul Oh, Green Kim, Eunha Hwang, Hoyin Jung, Youngjeon Lee, Philyong Kang, Jae‐Hak Park, Choong‐Min Ryu, Jung Joo Hong
Abstract
Using a reliable primate model is critical for developing therapeutic advances to treat humans infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we exposed macaques to high titers of SARS-CoV-2 via combined transmission routes. We observed acute interstitial pneumonia with endotheliitis in the lungs of all infected macaques. All macaques had a significant loss of total lymphocytes during infection, which were restored over time. These data show that SARS-CoV-2 causes a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-like disease in macaques. This new model could investigate the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system to test therapeutic strategies.