Syrian Hamster Model for Viral Infections

Housing and experimental infections of hamsters have been described [15] (link), [16] (link), [17] (link). In brief, 6 to 8 weeks old female Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were sourced from Janvier Laboratories and kept per two in individually ventilated isolator cages (IsoCage N Bio-containment System, Tecniplast) at 21 °C, 55% humidity and 12:12 day/night cycles. Animals had ad libitum access to food and water, and a wooden gnawing block and extra bedding material was provided as cage enrichment. All hamsters had SPF status at arrival and manipulations were performed under a laminar flow cabinet. Animals were anesthetized with ketamine/xylazine/atropine and intranasally infected with 50 µL of virus stock containing approximately 1 × 10⁵ TCID₅₀ (25 µL in each nostril), and euthanized 4 days post infection (dpi) for sampling of the lungs and further analysis by i.p. injection of 500 μL Dolethal (200 mg/mL sodium pentobarbital).