Age-Related Susceptibility of Ferrets to SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

ABSTRACT: Susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been linked to underlying health conditions and the age of affected individuals. Here, we assessed the effect of age on SARS-CoV-2 infection using a ferret model. For this, young (6-month-old) and aged (18- to 39-month-old) ferrets were inoculated intranasally with various doses of SARS-CoV-2. By using infectious virus shedding in respiratory secretions and seroconversion, we estimated that the infectious dose of SARS-CoV-2 in aged animals is ∼32 PFU per animal, while in young animals it was estimated to be ∼100 PFU. We showed that viral replication in the upper respiratory tract and shedding in respiratory secretions is enhanced in aged ferrets compare

SUBMITTER: Martins M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8826803 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature