RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Infectious SARS-CoV-2 is emitted in aerosols
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.08.10.455702
DO 10.1101/2021.08.10.455702
A1 Hawks, Seth A.
A1 Prussin, Aaron J.
A1 Kuchinsky, Sarah C.
A1 Pan, Jin
A1 Marr, Linsey C.
A1 Duggal, Nisha K.
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/08/10/2021.08.10.455702.abstract
AB Respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 are transmitted in respiratory droplets and aerosols, which are released during talking, breathing, coughing, and sneezing. Non-contact transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated, suggesting transmission in aerosols. Here we demonstrate that golden Syrian hamsters emit infectious SARS-CoV-2 in aerosols, prior to and concurrent with the onset of mild clinical signs of disease. The average emission rate is 25 infectious virions/hour on days 1 and 2 post-inoculation, with average viral RNA levels 200-fold higher than infectious virus in aerosols. Female hamsters have delayed kinetics of viral shedding in aerosols compared to male hamsters, with peak viral emission for females on dpi 2 and for males on dpi 1. The majority of virus is contained within aerosols <8 µm in size. Thus, we provide direct evidence that, in hamsters, SARS-CoV-2 is an airborne virus.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.