Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and influenza A virus co‐infection alters viral tropism and haematological composition in Syrian hamsters

• Published in: Transboundary and emerging diseases Vol. 69; no. 5; pp. e3297 - e3304
• Main Authors: Kim, Hye Kwon, Kang, Jung‐Ah, Lyoo, Kwang‐Soo, Le, Tran Bac, Yeo, Yoon Hwan, Wong, Sook‐San, Na, Woonsung, Song, Daesub, Webby, Richard J, Zanin, Mark, Jeong, Dae Gwin, Yoon, Sun‐Woo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Hindawi Limited 01-09-2022; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Animal diseases; Animals; Coinfection - veterinary; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - veterinary; co‐infection; Cricetinae; haematological change; Hamsters; Hematology; Humans; Infections; Influenza; Influenza A; influenza A virus; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human; Mesocricetus; Pandemics; Public health; Respiratory diseases; Respiratory tract; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Short Communication; Tropism; Viral diseases; Viral Tropism; Viruses; SARS-CoV-2; viral tropism; co-infection; haematological change; influenza A virus
• ISSN: 1865-1674; 1865-1682
• DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14601

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and its overlap with the influenza season lead to concerns over severe disease caused by the influenza virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) co‐infections. Using a Syrian hamster co‐infection model with SARS‐CoV‐2 and the pandemic influenza virus A/California/04/2009 (H1N1), we found (a) more severe disease in co‐infected animals, compared to those infected with influenza virus alone but not SARS‐CoV‐2 infection alone; (b) altered haematological changes in only co‐infected animals and (c) altered influenza virus tropism in the respiratory tracts of co‐infected animals. Overall, our study revealed that co‐infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 and influenza virus is associated with altered disease severity and tissue tropism, as well as haematological changes, compared to infection with either virus alone.