Influenza transmission in the guinea pig model is insensitive to the ventilation airflow speed: Evidence for the role of aerosolized fomites

Asadi, Sima; Hnia, Nassima Gaaloul ben; Barre, Ramya S.; Wexler, Anthony S.; Bouvier, Nicole M.; Ristenpart, William D.

doi:10.1103/physrevfluids.8.040502

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…A recent study with guinea pigs found that transmission efficiency was not affected by ventilation airflow speed, and the authors suggested that aerosolized virus resuspended from surfaces played a role in transmission (49). Previous work has drawn correlations between ventilation levels and observed human transmission rates (37,50), but these studies were not designed to directly assess transmission efficiency derived from ventilation differences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ventilation does not affect influenza virus transmission efficiency in a ferret playpen setup

Rockey,

Sage,

Shephard

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Sustained community spread of influenza viruses relies on efficient person-to-person transmission. Current experimental transmission systems do not mimic environmental conditions (e.g., air exchange rates, flow patterns), host behaviors or exposure durations relevant to real-world settings. Therefore, results from these traditional systems may not be representative of influenza virus transmission in humans. To address this pitfall, we developed a modified, more realistic transmission setup and used it to investigate the impact of ventilation rates on transmission in a close-range, play-based scenario. In this setup, four immunologically naïve recipient ferrets were exposed to a donor ferret infected with a genetically barcoded 2009 H1N1 virus (H1N1pdm09) for four hours. The ferrets interacted in a shared space that included toys, similar to a child care setting. The transmission efficiency was determined under conditions of low and high ventilation rates; air exchange rates of ∼ 1.3 hr-1and 23 hr-1, respectively. Despite the large difference in ventilation rate, transmission efficiency was the same, 50% in two independent replicate studies. The presence of infectious virus or viral RNA on surfaces and in air throughout the exposure area was similar regardless of ventilation rate. While high viral genetic diversity in donor ferret nasal washes was maintained during infection, recipient ferret nasal washes displayed low diversity, revealing a narrow transmission bottleneck regardless of ventilation rate. Our findings indicate that in exposures characterized by frequent close-range, play-based interactions and the presence of fomites, ventilation does not significantly impact transmission efficiency.SignificanceImproved ventilation in building has the potential to reduce transmission of respiratory viruses, but its effect in different settings is not well understood. We developed a novel system to study influenza virus transmission in the ferret animal model in an environment that mimics a child care center. We demonstrate that increased ventilation is not effective at disrupting transmission in this setting, suggesting that transmission occurs mainly at close-range or via fomites. Multiple interventions are needed to reduce the spread of influenza virus in this type of setting.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%