Experimental SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Bank Voles

Abstract

After experimental inoculation, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection was confirmed in bank voles by seroconversion within 8 days and detection of viral RNA in nasal tissue for up to 21 days. However, transmission to contact animals was not detected. Thus, bank voles are unlikely to establish effective transmission cycles in nature.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; Germany; SARS-CoV-2; bank vole; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; respiratory infections; rodent; serology; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; susceptibility; sylvatic cycle; viruses; wildlife cycle; zoonoses.

Figure

Percentage of SARS-CoV-2–positive swab specimens on all sampling time points in experimental SARS-CoV-2 infection of bank voles. The red mouse symbols symbolize inoculated bank voles; the white mouse symbols represent co-housed contact bank voles. Blue Y symbols stand for detected antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the respective bank vole group. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR results for the sampled organs of the euthanized, inoculated bank voles are given below the main chart for each time point. Cq, quantification cycle; dpi, days postinoculation; n, number of bank voles; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.