Comparative Pathogenesis Of COVID-19, MERS And SARS In A Non-Human Primate Model

  1. Barry Rockx
  2. Thijs Kuiken
  3. Sander Herfst
  4. Theo Bestebroer
  5. Mart M. Lamers
  6. Dennis de Meulder
  7. Geert van Amerongen
  8. Judith van den Brand
  9. Nisreen M.A. Okba
  10. Debby Schipper
  11. Peter van Run
  12. Lonneke Leijten
  13. Ernst Verschoor
  14. Babs Verstrepen
  15. Jan Langermans
  16. Christian Drosten
  17. Martje Fentener van Vlissingen
  18. Ron Fouchier
  19. Rik de Swart
  20. Marion Koopmans
  21. Bart L. Haagmans
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Abstract

A novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was recently identified in patients with an acute respiratory syndrome, COVID-19. To compare its pathogenesis with that of previously emerging coronaviruses, we inoculated cynomolgus macaques with SARS-CoV-2 or MERS-CoV and compared with historical SARS-CoV infections. In SARS-CoV-2-infected macaques, virus was excreted from nose and throat in absence of clinical signs, and detected in type I and II pneumocytes in foci of diffuse alveolar damage and mucous glands of the nasal cavity. In SARS-CoV-infection, lung lesions were typically more severe, while they were milder in MERS-CoV infection, where virus was detected mainly in type II pneumocytes. These data show that SARS-CoV-2 can cause a COVID-19-like disease, and suggest that the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection is intermediate between that of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV.

One Sentence Summary

SARS-CoV-2 infection in macaques results in COVID-19-like disease with prolonged virus excretion from nose and throat in absence of clinical signs.

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