Searching for animal models and potential target species for emerging pathogens: Experience gained from Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus

Vergara-Alert, Júlia; Vidal, Enric; Bensaid, Albert; Segalés, Joaquim

After intranasal inoculation of MERS-CoV, only mild excretion of mucus was observed in 6 to 8-week old domestic pigs [50] . Viral RNA was detected in nasal swabs, in the URT, trachea and bronchus. Although gross lesions were not present in pigs, they showed mild to moderate rhinitis, with virus replication observed in the epithelial cells in the URT. Shedding of MERS-CoV was detected in nasal swabs from days 1 to 10 PI, but infectious virus was only detected until day 4 PI. Viral RNA was also detected in the URT, trachea and bronchus [50] . CoV) . Dromedary camel is a demonstrated reservoir of MERS-CoV, but other species might act as hosts. In red: reported MERS-CoV-seropositive species and/or species in which virus has been naturally detected. In orange: other animal species that might be considered potential hosts since they are experimentally susceptible to MERS-CoV infection. Alpacas fit into both scenarios (red and orange). In black: animals (bats, to date) in which RNA of different sequences of MERS-CoV-like viruses have been found. Continuous arrows represent already described intra-and inter-species transmission events. Discontinuous arrows represent potential inter-species transmission.