Abstract: | Highlights 1. Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 can effectively infect the Rhesus macaque. 2. The Delta variant grows faster than the early strain isolated from Wuhan in late 2019. 3. The shedding pattern, viral load and disease severity of Delta variant are similar with the early strain isolated from Wuhan in late 2019. 4. This study supports the attributed rapid disease spread of the Delta variant. |