Human-to-Human Transmission of Andes Virus Modeled in Syrian Hamsters

Abstract

Several occurrences of human-to-human transmission of Andes virus, an etiological agent of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, are documented. Syrian hamsters consistently model human hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, yet neither transmission nor shedding has been investigated. We demonstrate horizontal virus transmission and show that Andes virus is shed efficiently from both inoculated and contact-infected hamsters.

Keywords

• Andes virus
• Hantavirus
• Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome
• Syrian hamster
• viruses
• Germany