One hypothesis is that the prairie dogs contracted the virus from infected dormice, rope squirrels, or Gambian giant rats, which were housed in the same animal-holding facility or pet shop as the prairie dogs.

• 有一个猜想是，草原狗从已感染的睡鼠、绳松鼠或冈比亚巨田鼠获得病毒，因为这些动物与草原狗被关在同一个动物圈养设施或宠物商店里。