COVID-19 Syrian hamster model

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covid-19 Syrian hamster model

IITRI has developed a robust model for COVID-19 using the Syrian (golden) hamster.

Below is a basic study description and design, although IITRI can provide specialized study designs based on your needs. Contact us today to learn more and discuss how we can partner for SARS-CoV-2 animal studies.

Species Information	Syrian Hamster (~5-6 weeks at challenge)
Study Duration	Sponsor dependent (14+ normal)
Challenge Dosage and Strains	Intranasal (25 μl / nare) at 5 x 10^4; wildtype USA-WA1/2020), relevant variants
Drug administration	Aerosol, PO, IN, SC (inquire about others)

Study Details

ID50=2-5E2 TCID50, recommended 5-10xID50= 1-5E3to4 TCID50

Primary readouts

Viral load in lungs

TCID50 (infectious virus). Starts on Day 1, peaks on Day 2-3
RT-qPCR (prescence of genomic viral RNA). Starts on Day 1, peaks on Day 2-3
RT-qPCR (active viral replication/transcription).

Viral load in upper respiratory tract

TCID50 (infectious virus). Starts on Day 1, peaks on Day 2-3. Undetectable/inconsistent after Day 4
RT-qPCR (prescence of genomic viral RNA). Starts on Day 1, peaks on Day 2-3. Inconsistent.
RT-qPCR (active viral replication/transcription).

Viral load in swabs (virus shedding)

TCID50 (infectious virus). Starts on Day 1, peaks on Day 2-3
RT-qPCR (prescence of genomic viral RNA). Starts on Day 1, peaks on Day 2-3, lingers until > Day 10

Secondary readouts

Body weigh loss 4-10%. Starts on Day 2, peak on Day 7-8 and then they recovered.
Cytokines by RT-qPCR (gene expression)
Histopathology of lungs. Day 2-3 (peak of disease) vs Day 7 (peribronchiolar metaplasia or lambertosis, sequelae)

SARS-CoV-2 syrian hamster

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Read more about the SARS-CoV-2 Syrian hamster model below:

– Syrian hamsters as a small animal model for SARS-CoV-2 infection and countermeasure development (PNAS article, 07/2020)

– Pathogenesis and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in golden hamsters (Nature article, 05/2020)

– Rapid isolation of potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and protection in a small animal model (bioRxiv, 05/2020)

– Mice, hamsters, ferrets, monkeys. Which lab animals can help defeat the new coronavirus? (Science Mag, 04/2020)

– Simulation of the clinical and pathological manifestations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in golden Syrian hamster model: implications for disease pathogenesis and transmissibility (Clinical Infectious Diseases 03/2020)