Comparison of nonhuman primates identified the suitable model for COVID-19

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Identification of a suitable nonhuman primate (NHP) model of COVID-19 remains challenging. Here, we characterized severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in three NHP species: Old World monkeys <jats:italic>Macaca mulatta</jats:italic> (<jats:italic>M. mulatta</jats:italic>) and <jats:italic>Macaca fascicularis</jats:italic> (<jats:italic>M. fascicularis</jats:italic>) and New World monkey <jats:italic>Callithrix jacchus</jats:italic> (<jats:italic>C. jacchus</jats:italic>). Infected <jats:italic>M. mulatta</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>M. fascicularis</jats:italic> showed abnormal chest radiographs, an increased body temperature and a decreased body weight. Viral genomes were detected in swab and blood samples from all animals. Viral load was detected in the pulmonary tissues of <jats:italic>M. mulatta</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>M. fascicularis</jats:italic> but not <jats:italic>C. jacchus</jats:italic>. Furthermore, among the three animal species, <jats:italic>M. mulatta</jats:italic> showed the strongest response to SARS-CoV-2, including increased inflammatory cytokine expression and pathological changes in the pulmonary tissues. Collectively, these data revealed the different susceptibilities of Old World and New World monkeys to SARS-CoV-2 and identified <jats:italic>M. mulatta</jats:italic> as the most suitable for modeling COVID-19.</jats:p>