Animals involved with COVID-19 research

COVID-19 was found to be susceptible to many animal species, which led to research studies being conducted.  

Ferrets, pigs, mice, llamas and monkeys were all involved with researching the side effects of COVID-19 and producing the vaccines.

Mice have been involved with medical research since 1678. This is due to their ability to reproduce quickly and their genetic similarity to humans. Mice have continued to be used to study the long term effects COVID-19 has on the body.  

A recent study by the Journal of Experimental Medicine used mice to see how the virus effects the olfactory senses. This study concluded that natural cell death and the infection of non-neutral cells in the brain is what stops the body from being able to smell.  

Monkeys especially macaques have been used to research the COVID-19 virus but were also used in testing the COVID-19 vaccines. 

Rhesus macaques were used in a study posted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science that tested the likelihood of being infected with COVID-19 more than once. 

This study concluded that in the initial days following recovery from COVID-19, monkeys did not become reinfected. The study does note that this does not apply long term. 

During vaccine development, rhesus, cynomolgus and pigtail macaques were used to test the effectiveness of the vaccines. 

In August the monkeys were used to test the Oxford vaccine. This study showed that two doses of the vaccine was necessary to prevent COVID-19. 

The Oxford vaccine had side effects on the monkeys such as, fevers, chills, headaches and muscle aches. All the side effects could be reversed by taking acetaminophen.  

Llamas and other camelids have antibodies called nanobodies that can prevent infections. 

Nanobodies from one llama have been used to produce a liquid that could protect human lungs from infections like COVID-19. 

Research has been conducted on one llama named Cormac. Cormac was injected with neutralized COVID-19 spike proteins, in order to isolate the nanobodies. 

The study led by neuroscientists Thomas Esparza and  David  Brody found that Cormac’s body produces 13 nanobodies that could prevent lung infections. 

Nanobodies can be aerosolized and used in inhalers for patients with asthma. 

The nanobodies work by grabbing onto the spike proteins of COVID-19 and covering them preventing the virus from causing infections. 

The goal of this study is to create a treatment for COVID-19 through Cormac’s nanobodies. 

Tests were done on ferrets to show how indirect contact with COVID-19 infected patients. 

Ferrets were placed in cages stacked on top of one another, in the bottom cage an COVID-19 infected animal is kept. On the top cage there is an animal that is healthy, using a vent from the bottom cage to the top cage the researchers tested whether or not the virus can be spread thought the air. 

The study found that particles of 50 microns or larger were not transmitted through the vents. 

The conclusion of the study was that if animals were within one meter from each other COVID-19 was transmitted from the infected animal to the healthy animal. 

The study also found evidence that COVID-19 may be transmitted through fur particles and not only through the air.  

This research was important in studying the risks in hospitals treating COVID-19 patients where there where there were concerns about transmission through the air vents.

Pigs bodies shows various similarities to human bodies and that makes them good subjects for medical testing. Pigs and humans share similar digestive and immune system. 

Pigs were easily infected with COVID-19 and it is easily transmitted between animals. 

A study working to treat COVID-19 produced a product called the RapidVent which is used to help those infected with the virus.

The product was developed to be used as a treatment for COVID-19 when ventilators were not available.

The testing for RapidVent was tested on pigs that were infected with the virus. 

 Pigs that weigh 250 pounds have lungs that are the same size as a 150 pound human.  RapidVent was found to be successful in replacing ventilators.

Vaccines were tested on pigs in order to gauge the side effects of the vaccines. The study will measure the amount of antibodies in the pigs immune system before and after administering the vaccine to decide if the vaccine was successful or not. 

Animals testing was key in the study and development of the COVID-19 vaccines.