Tissue replication and mucosal swab detection of Sosuga virus in Syrian hamsters in the absence of overt tissue pathology and clinical disease

Abstract

Human infection with Sosuga virus (SOSV), a recently discovered pathogenic paramyxovirus, has been reported in one individual to date. No animal models of disease are currently available for SOSV. Here, we describe initial characterization of experimental infection in Syrian hamsters, including kinetics of virus dissemination and replication, and the corresponding clinical parameters, immunological responses, and histopathology. We demonstrate susceptibility of hamsters to infection in the absence of clinical signs or significant histopathologic findings in tissues.

Keywords: Hamster animal model; Histopathology; Neutralization; Paramyxovirus; Sosuga virus; Zoonoses.