Fig. 2: Hamsters inoculated with Human HPAIV H5N1 isolate shed more infectious virus compared to Mountain Lion H5N1 isolate.

A, B Viral shedding kinetics as measured as RNA copy number in oropharyngeal swabs and corresponding area under the curve (AUC) analyses. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected daily, and viral RNA was quantified by RT-qPCR. The AUC of viral RNA shedding was calculated for each group. C, D Quantification of infectious HPAIV H5N1 in oropharyngeal swabs and corresponding AUC analysis. Infectious virus was measured by endpoint titration, and AUC was calculated to compare total oral shedding. E, F Viral RNA levels in rectal swabs and corresponding AUC analysis, as measured by RT-qPCR. G Infectious virus titers in rectal swabs. H Lung-to-body weight ratios at 4 dpi. Lungs were harvested from infected and uninfected control animals (n = 6 per group), and lung weight to body weight ratio was determined to assess pulmonary pathology. I, J Nasal turbinates (NT) and lung tissues collected at 4 dpi were analyzed for viral RNA (I) and infectious virus (J). Statistical significance was assessed using a Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Mann-Whitney U test for (B, D and F); Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn’s multiple comparisons test for H; and two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test for I and J. p value < 0.05, indicated where significant. Limit of detection was 2.72 log₁₀ Copies/mL for (A, E, and I) 0.5 log₁₀ TCID₅₀/mL for (C, G) and 0.5 log₁₀ TCID₅₀/g for J. For (A, C, E, and G) individual values are shown; the line represents the median, and the shaded error bands indicate the interquartile range. For panels B, D, F, and H–J data are represented as box-and-whisker plots depicting the median (center line) and interquartile range (25th–75th percentiles). Whiskers indicate minimum and maximum values and all individual data points are shown. n = 6 per group.