Susceptibility of Raccoon Dogs for Experimental SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

Raccoon dogs might have been intermediate hosts for severe acute respiratory syndrome–associated coronavirus in 2002–2004. We demonstrated susceptibility of raccoon dogs to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and transmission to in-contact animals. Infected animals had no signs of illness. Virus replication and tissue lesions occurred in the nasal conchae.

Keywords

• raccoon dogs
• COVID-19
• SARS-CoV-2
• susceptibility
• transmission
• respiratory infections