Raccoon dogs might have been intermediate hosts for severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus in 2002-2004. We demonstrated susceptibility of raccoon dogs to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and transmission to in-contact animals. Infected animals had no signs of illness. Virus replication and tissue lesions occurred in the nasal conchae.
Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; COVID-19; Nyctereutes procyonoides; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; raccoon dogs; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; susceptibility; transmission; viruses; zoonoses.