Aetiology: Koch's postulates fulfilled for SARS virus
Ron A M Fouchier, Thijs Kuiken, Martin Schutten, Geert van Amerongen, Gerard J J van Doornum, Bernadette G van den Hoogen, Malik Peiris, Wilina Lim, Klaus Stöhr, Albert D M E Osterhaus, Ron A M Fouchier, Thijs Kuiken, Martin Schutten, Geert van Amerongen, Gerard J J van Doornum, Bernadette G van den Hoogen, Malik Peiris, Wilina Lim, Klaus Stöhr, Albert D M E Osterhaus
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has recently emerged as a new human disease, resulting globally in 435 deaths from 6,234 probable cases (as of 3 May 2003). Here we provide proof from experimental infection of cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) that the newly discovered SARS-associated coronavirus (SCV) is the aetiological agent of this disease. Our understanding of the aetiology of SARS will expedite the development of diagnostic tests, antiviral therapies and vaccines, and may allow a more concise case definition for this emerging disease.
Supplementary information: The online version of this article (doi:10.1038/423240a) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
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Source: PubMed