Abstract:
The main route of the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are through respiratory pathways and close contact of human-to-human. While information about other modes of transmission is comparatively less, some published literature supporting the likelihood of a fecal-oral mode of transmission has been accumulating. The diagnosis of SARS-COV-2 infected cases is based on the real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The fecal excretion of SARS-COV-2 has been reported frequently, however, the role of fecal viral load with the severity of disease is not yet clear. Our study focused on the investigation of SARS-CoV-2 shedding in the fecal samples of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A total of 280 RT-PCR-positive patients were enrolled, among them 15.4% had gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. It was shown that 62% of the patients were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in fecal specimens. This positivity was not related to the presence of GI symptoms and the severity of disease. The next generation sequencing [NGS] of SARS-CoV-2 from fecal samples of patients was performed to analyze mutational variations. Findings from this study not only emphasized the potential presence of SARS-CoV-2 in feces, but also its continuing mutational changes and its possible role in fecal-oral transmission.
摘要:
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(SARS-CoV-2)的主要传播途径是通过呼吸道途径和人与人之间的密切接触。虽然关于其他传输模式的信息相对较少,一些已发表的支持粪便-口腔传播方式可能性的文献一直在积累。SARS-COV-2感染病例的诊断基于实时逆转录PCR(RT-PCR)。SARS-COV-2的粪便排泄经常被报道,然而,粪便病毒载量与疾病严重程度的关系尚不清楚。我们的研究重点是2019年冠状病毒病患者(COVID-19)粪便样本中SARS-CoV-2脱落的调查。共纳入280例RT-PCR阳性患者,其中15.4%有胃肠道(GI)症状。结果表明,粪便标本中有62%的患者对SARS-CoV-2RNA呈阳性。这种阳性与胃肠道症状的存在和疾病的严重程度无关。进行来自患者粪便样品的SARS-CoV-2的下一代测序[NGS]以分析突变变化。这项研究的发现不仅强调了粪便中SARS-CoV-2的潜在存在,而且其持续的突变变化及其在粪便-口腔传播中的可能作用。