A Novel Corona Virus Causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Fouchier, Ron

Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging disease that was first reported in Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China, in November 2002, from where it spread to other Asian countries, North America, and Europe. As of July 5 2003, this epidemic has resulted globally in 8437 reported cases, of which 813 were fatal. The initial clinical description of SARS was relatively vague, described as atypical pneumonia.

Upon the early recognition of this pandemic threat, the WHO coordinated task forces consisting of experts in the fields of clinical management, epidemiology and etiology. Within the etiology task force, many known human pathogens were detected in SARS-patients, of which human metapneumovirus was found most frequently. However, relatively quickly, coronavirus-like particles were also detected in many clinical specimens, either directly or upon virus isolation.

We have provided evidence that the newly discovered SARS-associated coronavirus (SCV) is the primary cause of SARS. First, we analyzed the results of investigations into etiological agents from the WHO network of laboratories, showing that SCV was the only agent found consistently in patients with a probable diagnosis of SARS. Second, we described the replication of the virus in respiratory lesions of SARS in experimentally infected cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis). This was based on both histopathology and localization of SCV to the typical pulmonary lesions by immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy.

Other animal models for SARS research have been developed and will be discussed. In addition, an overview of the epidemiology and other salient details on SARS and SCV will be presented.

Keynote speaker - Andersson S et al.: Phylogeny and Distribution of Vector-Borne Pathogens: What to Expect from Genomics?

Keynote speaker - Barbour A et al.: Interrupting transmission of Lyme borreliosis by targeting a reservoir for vaccination: a longitudinal study of a field site in North America

Keynote speaker - Broman T et al.: Campylobacter jejuni and wild birds

Keynote speaker - Broman T et al.: Natural reservoirs and vectors of Francisella tularensis in Sweden

Keynote speaker - Fouchier R: Influenza virus zoonoses

Keynote speaker - Fouchier R: A Novel Corona Virus Causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Keynote speaker - Lundström J: Intercontinental dispersal and local adaptation of a mosquito-borne bird virus

Keynote speaker -Stervander M: Research activities and possibilities at Ottenby Bird Observatory

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