Study identifies a nonhuman primate model that mimics severe COVID-19
similar to humans

Date:
January 19, 2021
Source:
Elsevier
Summary:
New research suggests that aged African green monkeys may be
suitable models for the study of severe forms of COVID-19.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Aged, wild-caught African green monkeys exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with clinical
symptoms similar to those observed in the most serious human cases
of COVID-19, report researchers in The American Journal of Pathology,
published by Elsevier. This is the first study to show that African green monkeys can develop severe clinical disease after SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting that they may be useful models for the study of COVID-19
in humans.


========================================================================== "Animal models greatly enhance our understanding of diseases. The lack of
an animal model for severe manifestations of COVID-19 has hampered our understanding of this form of the disease," explained lead investigator
Robert V. Blair, DVM, PhD, Dip ACVP, Tulane National Primate Research
Center, Covington, LA, USA. "If aged green monkeys prove to be a
consistent model of severe COVID-19, studying the disease pathobiology
in them would improve our understanding of the disease and allow testing treatment options." The researchers exposed four aged rhesus macaques
and four aged African green monkeys to SARS-CoV-2. Older animals (13-16
years of age) were specifically chosen to see if they would develop the
severe form of the disease that is observed more frequently in elderly individuals. All of the monkeys developed a spectrum of disease from mild
to severe COVID-19. A day after routine screening found no remarkable
symptoms, two of the African green monkeys developed rapid breathing
that quickly progressed to severe respiratory distress. Radiographic
studies found the two African green monkeys had widespread opacities in
the lungs, in stark contrast to images taken the day before, highlighting
the rapid development of the disease. Such opacities are a hallmark of
ARDS in humans.

The African green monkeys that progressed to severe disease had
notable increases in plasma cytokines that are compatible with cytokine
storm, which is thought to underlie the development of ARDS in some
patients. All four African green monkeys had elevated levels of
interferon gamma; the two that had progressed to ARDS had the highest
plasma concentration. Plasma cytokines were not increased in the rhesus macaques. Dr. Blair suggested that elevated interferon gamma could be
explored as a potential predictive biomarker for advanced disease in
patients and a possible therapeutic target.

Dr. Blair said, "Our data suggest that both rhesus monkeys and African
green monkeys are capable of modeling mild manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and aged African green monkeys may additionally be capable
of modeling severe disease manifestations, including ARDS."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Elsevier. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Robert V. Blair, Monica Vaccari, Lara A. Doyle-Meyers, Chad
J. Roy, Kasi
Russell-Lodrigue, Marissa Fahlberg, Chris J. Monjure, Brandon
Beddingfield, Kenneth S. Plante, Jessica A. Plante, Scott C. Weaver,
Xuebin Qin, Cecily C. Midkiff, Gabrielle Lehmicke, Nadia Golden,
Breanna Threeton, Toni Penney, Carolina Allers, Mary B. Barnes,
Melissa Pattison, Prasun K. Datta, Nicholas J. Maness, Angela
Birnbaum, Tracy Fischer, Rudolf P. Bohm, Jay Rappaport. Acute
Respiratory Distress in Aged, SARS- CoV-2-Infected African Green
Monkeys but Not Rhesus Macaques. The American Journal of Pathology,
2020; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2020.10.016 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210119122109.htm

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