Adult K18-hACE2 mice are suitable for studying intranasal SARS-CoV-2 infection but not direct-contact transmission.

ABSTRACT: The rapid global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) since 2019 emphasizes the need to understand its transmission routes, which mainly comprise airborne and contact transmission. Contact transmission, where the virus spreads through direct or indirect contact, is key to the disease epidemiology. Therefore, investigating contact transmission in animal models is crucial for understanding SARS-CoV-2 behavior and developing effective preventive measures. Although ferrets, cats, and hamsters have been established as models for studying contact transmission, the susceptibility of mice (the most commonly used experimental animal model) to SARS-CoV-2 contact infection remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 can spread via contact tra

SUBMITTER: Kim J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12671175 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature