In one animal (7 dpi), there was localized flooding of bronchioles by degenerate neutrophils and cellular debris mixed with birefringent foreign material consistent with aspiration pneumonia, a rare complication previously reported in K18-hACE2 mice infected with SARS-CoV that was ultimately attributed to pharyngeal and laryngeal dysfunction impeding normal swallowing reflex, a sequela secondary to central nervous system (CNS) disease [34]. Here, KRT18 is linked to aspiration pneumonitis.