Pathological and virological analyses of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus infections in experimental animals.

摘要

1. INTRODUCTION Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a recently identified emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). To determine the pathological features of SARS-CoV infection in experimental animals, its clinical, pathological, and virological features were investigated in cynomolgus monkeys, BALB/c mice, and F344 rats. The susceptibility of these animals to SARS-CoV infection was evaluated to identify suitable animal models for studies of the pathogenesis and treatment of SARS.