Susceptibility of rabbits to SARS-CoV-2

Anna Z Mykytyn; Mart M Lamers; Nisreen M A Okba; Tim I Breugem; Debby Schipper; Petra B van den Doel; Peter van Run; Geert van Amerongen; Leon de Waal; Marion P G Koopmans; Koert J Stittelaar; Judith M A van den Brand; Bart L Haagmans

doi:10.1080/22221751.2020.1868951

Susceptibility of rabbits to SARS-CoV-2

Emerg Microbes Infect. 2021 Dec;10(1):1-7. doi: 10.1080/22221751.2020.1868951.

Affiliations

¹ Viroscience department, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
² Viroclinics Biosciences B.V., Viroclinics Xplore, Schaijk, the Netherlands.
³ Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Abstract

Transmission of severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) between livestock and humans is a potential public health concern. We demonstrate the susceptibility of rabbits to SARS-CoV-2, which excrete infectious virus from the nose and throat upon experimental inoculation. Therefore, investigations on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in farmed rabbits should be considered.

Keywords: COVID-19; Rabbit; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; susceptibility; transmission.

MeSH terms

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / physiology
Animals
COVID-19 / etiology
COVID-19 / transmission*
COVID-19 / veterinary
Disease Susceptibility / veterinary
Female
HEK293 Cells
Humans
Rabbits / virology*
SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification*
Virus Shedding

Substances

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development [grant number 10150062010008]; PPP Allowance [grant number LSHM19136].