Fatih M Hanege1,2, Esra Kocoglu3, Mahmut T Kalcioglu1, Serdal Celik1, Yasemin Cag4, Fehim Esen5, Eray Bayindir1, Sadrettin Pence6, Emine Alp Mese7, Canan Agalar8. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. 2. Drhanege Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey. 3. Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. 4. Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. 6. Department of Physiology, Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. 7. Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey. 8. Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Saglik Bilimleri University Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The emergence of a new coronavirus strain (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019 from China led to a global pandemic. The lack of herd immunity against this virus and the possibility of viral spread from asymptomatic individuals is still a major challenge for the prevention of viral transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of the virus in different bodily secretions as a potential source of viral spread among patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. STUDY DESIGN: Cross Sectional Study. METHODS: The study included 38 COVID-19 patients with a positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result for SARS-CoV-2, obtained from the combined nasopharyngeal-oropharyngeal swab samples. Saliva, tear, and cerumen samples were taken from the patients within 72 hours of the first RT-PCR test. SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 gene regions were studied with single-step RT-PCR in all samples. RESULTS: Among the studied samples, the highest positivity rate was in saliva (76.3%) followed by tears (55.3%) and cerumen (39.5%). Viral load in saliva was also significantly higher compared to tears and cerumen (P < .001), while there was no significant difference between tears and cerumen. Higher viral load in combined nasopharyngeal-oropharyngeal swab samples was associated with higher viral load in tears, but not in saliva or cerumen. Half of the saliva, tear, and cerumen samples obtained from asymptomatic patients contained SARS-CoV-2 genome. CONCLUSIONS: The virus was detected in the saliva, tears, and cerumen samples of both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The potential role of these bodily fluids on viral spread needs to be studied. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E1677-E1682, 2021.
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The emergence of a new coronavirus strain (SARS-CoV-2) in December 2019 from China led to a global pandemic. The lack of herd immunity against this virus and the possibility of viral spread from asymptomatic individuals is still a major challenge for the prevention of viral transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of the virus in different bodily secretions as a potential source of viral spread among patientsinfected with SARS-CoV-2. STUDY DESIGN: Cross Sectional Study. METHODS: The study included 38 COVID-19patients with a positive real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test result for SARS-CoV-2, obtained from the combined nasopharyngeal-oropharyngeal swab samples. Saliva, tear, and cerumen samples were taken from the patients within 72 hours of the first RT-PCR test. SARS-CoV-2 N1 and N2 gene regions were studied with single-step RT-PCR in all samples. RESULTS: Among the studied samples, the highest positivity rate was in saliva (76.3%) followed by tears (55.3%) and cerumen (39.5%). Viral load in saliva was also significantly higher compared to tears and cerumen (P < .001), while there was no significant difference between tears and cerumen. Higher viral load in combined nasopharyngeal-oropharyngeal swab samples was associated with higher viral load in tears, but not in saliva or cerumen. Half of the saliva, tear, and cerumen samples obtained from asymptomatic patients contained SARS-CoV-2 genome. CONCLUSIONS: The virus was detected in the saliva, tears, and cerumen samples of both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The potential role of these bodily fluids on viral spread needs to be studied. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E1677-E1682, 2021.
Authors: Qing Yang; Tassa K Saldi; Erika Lasda; Carolyn J Decker; Camille L Paige; Denise Muhlrad; Patrick K Gonzales; Morgan R Fink; Kimngan L Tat; Cole R Hager; Jack C Davis; Christopher D Ozeroff; Nicholas R Meyerson; Stephen K Clark; Will T Fattor; Alison R Gilchrist; Arturo Barbachano-Guerrero; Emma R Worden-Sapper; Sharon S Wu; Gloria R Brisson; Matthew B McQueen; Robin D Dowell; Leslie Leinwand; Roy Parker; Sara L Sawyer Journal: medRxiv Date: 2021-03-05
Authors: Joanna Dolar-Szczasny; Mario D Toro; Anna Dworzańska; Tomasz Wójtowicz; Izabela Korona-Glowniak; Rafał Sawicki; Anastazja Boguszewska; Małgorzata Polz-Dacewicz; Krzysztof Tomasiewicz; Wojciech Załuska; Robert Rejdak; Paola Bagnoli; Dario Rusciano Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-12 Impact factor: 3.390