Fig. 2: Viral loads during determination of optimal co-housing duration.

A–C Viral genome levels in throat swabs were measured by RT-qPCR. A Viral genomes plotted as TCID₅₀ eq/ml over time after intranasal inoculation with Omicron BA.5 (donor, gray; n = 6) or co-housing with donor hamster for 6 h (red, triangle; n = 6), 12 h (green, square; n = 6) or 24 h (blue, diamond; n = 6) starting 20 h post inoculation of donors (HPI). Negative values (ND) were set to 20 TCID₅₀ eq/ml. Symbols represent individual hamsters; lines represent group geometric means. B Identical to panel A, lines represent individual animals. C Area under the curve (AUC) based on the individual curves in panel B. Lines represent group median. Groups were compared by Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001. D–F Infectious viral loads in throat swabs were measured by virus isolation. D Infectious virus in throat swabs plotted as TCID₅₀/ml. The dotted lines represent the lower limit of detection (60 TCID₅₀/ml). Undetected values (ND) were set to 20 TCID₅₀/ml. Symbols represent individual hamsters; line represents group geometric means. E Identical to panel D, lines represent individual animals. The dotted lines represent the lower limit of detection (60 TCID₅₀/ml). F AUC based on the curves in panel E. Lines represent the group median. Groups were compared by Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001.