Immunological and cardio-vascular pathologies associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in golden syrian hamster

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection in golden Syrian hamster (GSH) causes lung pathology and resembles human coronavirus disease (Covid-19). However, extra-pulmonary pathologies of SARS-CoV-2 infection that result in long Covid remains undefined in GSH. Here, using in silico modelling we show that hamster angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) and neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) interaction with SARS-CoV-2 is similar to human. Intranasal SARS-CoV-2 infection in GSH resulted in early onset of lung pathologies marked by aggressive inflammatory response. Remarkably, late phase of SARS-CoV2 infection in GSH showed cardiovascular complications (CVC) characterized by ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular wall thickening, interstitial coronary fibrosis and altered lipidomics with elevated cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and long chain fatty acid triglycerides. Moreover, serum metabolomics profile of infected GSH correlated with Covid19 patients. Together, we propose GSH as a suitable animal model to study immediate and long Covid19 pathologies that could be extended to therapeutics against Covid19 related CVC.