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SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are transmitted through the air between ferrets over more than one meter distance

Jasmin S Kutter, Dennis de Meulder, Theo M Bestebroer, Pascal Lexmond, Ard Mulders, Ron AM Fouchier, View ORCID ProfileSander Herfst
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.19.345363
Jasmin S Kutter
1Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Dennis de Meulder
1Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Theo M Bestebroer
1Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Pascal Lexmond
1Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Ard Mulders
1Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Ron AM Fouchier
1Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Sander Herfst
1Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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  • ORCID record for Sander Herfst
  • For correspondence: s.herfst@erasmusmc.nl
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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 emerged in late 2019 and caused a pandemic, whereas the closely related SARS-CoV was contained rapidly in 2003. Here, a newly developed experimental set-up was used to study transmission of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 through the air between ferrets over more than a meter distance. Both viruses caused a robust productive respiratory tract infection resulting in transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to two of four indirect recipient ferrets and SARS-CoV to all four. A control pandemic A/H1N1 influenza virus also transmitted efficiently. Serological assays confirmed all virus transmission events. Although the experiments did not discriminate between transmission via small aerosols, large droplets and fomites, these results demonstrate that SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 can remain infectious while travelling through the air. Efficient virus transmission between ferrets is in agreement with frequent SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in mink farms. Although the evidence for airborne virus transmission between humans under natural conditions is absent or weak for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, ferrets may represent a sensitive model to study interventions aimed at preventing virus transmission.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
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Posted October 19, 2020.
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SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are transmitted through the air between ferrets over more than one meter distance
Jasmin S Kutter, Dennis de Meulder, Theo M Bestebroer, Pascal Lexmond, Ard Mulders, Ron AM Fouchier, Sander Herfst
bioRxiv 2020.10.19.345363; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.19.345363
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SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are transmitted through the air between ferrets over more than one meter distance
Jasmin S Kutter, Dennis de Meulder, Theo M Bestebroer, Pascal Lexmond, Ard Mulders, Ron AM Fouchier, Sander Herfst
bioRxiv 2020.10.19.345363; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.19.345363

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