tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Gastro Hep Adv
. 2022 Jun 24.
doi: 10.1016/j.gastha.2022.06.002. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 is detected in the gastrointestinal tract of asymptomatic endoscopy patients but is unlikely to pose a significant risk to healthcare personnel
Michelle D Cherne[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Andrew B Gentry[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Anna Nemudraia[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Artem Nemudryy[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jodi F Hedges[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Heather Walk[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Karlin Blackwell[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Deann T Snyder[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Maria Jerome[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wyatt Madden[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Marziah Hashimi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], T Andrew Sebrell[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David B King[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Raina K Plowright[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mark A Jutila[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Blake Wiedenheft[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Diane Bimczok[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background and aims: Recent evidence suggests that the gut is an additional target for SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, whether SARS-CoV-2 spreads via gastrointestinal secretions remains unclear. To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic subjects, we analyzed gastrointestinal biopsy and liquid samples from endoscopy patients for the presence of SARS-CoV-2.
Methods: We enrolled 100 endoscopic patients without known SARS-CoV-2 infection (cohort A) and 12 patients with a previous COVID-19 diagnosis (cohort B) in a cohort study performed at a regional hospital. Gastrointestinal biopsies and fluids were screened for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR, immunohistochemistry and virus isolation assay, and the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in gastrointestinal liquids in vitro was analyzed.
Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by PCR in the colonic tissue of 1/100 patients in cohort A. In cohort, B, three colonic liquid samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR, and viral nucleocapsid protein was detected in the epithelium of the respective biopsy samples. However, no infectious virions were recovered from any samples. In vitro exposure of SARS-CoV-2 to colonic liquid led to a 4-log fold reduction of infectious SARS-CoV-2 within 1 hour (P ≤ 0.05).
Conclusions: Overall, the persistent detection of SARS-CoV-2 in endoscopy samples after resolution of COVID-19 points to the gut as a long-term reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. Since no infectious virions were recovered and SARS-CoV-2 was rapidly inactivated in the presence of colon liquids, it is unlikely that performing endoscopic procedures is associated with a significant infection risk due to undiagnosed asymptomatic or persistent gastrointestinal SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; CT, cycle threshold; E gene, envelope gene; Endoscopy; GI, gastrointestinal; N gene, nucleocapsid gene; NP, nucleocapsid protein; PFU, plaque-forming units; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; colonic liquid; qRT-PCR, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; transmission risk.
. 2022 Jun 24.
doi: 10.1016/j.gastha.2022.06.002. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 is detected in the gastrointestinal tract of asymptomatic endoscopy patients but is unlikely to pose a significant risk to healthcare personnel
Michelle D Cherne[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Andrew B Gentry[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Anna Nemudraia[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Artem Nemudryy[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jodi F Hedges[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Heather Walk[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Karlin Blackwell[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Deann T Snyder[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Maria Jerome[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wyatt Madden[SUP] 1 3 [/SUP], Marziah Hashimi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], T Andrew Sebrell[SUP] 1 [/SUP], David B King[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Raina K Plowright[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mark A Jutila[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Blake Wiedenheft[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Diane Bimczok[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35765598
- PMCID: PMC9225937
- DOI: 10.1016/j.gastha.2022.06.002
Abstract
Background and aims: Recent evidence suggests that the gut is an additional target for SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, whether SARS-CoV-2 spreads via gastrointestinal secretions remains unclear. To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic subjects, we analyzed gastrointestinal biopsy and liquid samples from endoscopy patients for the presence of SARS-CoV-2.
Methods: We enrolled 100 endoscopic patients without known SARS-CoV-2 infection (cohort A) and 12 patients with a previous COVID-19 diagnosis (cohort B) in a cohort study performed at a regional hospital. Gastrointestinal biopsies and fluids were screened for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR, immunohistochemistry and virus isolation assay, and the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in gastrointestinal liquids in vitro was analyzed.
Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected by PCR in the colonic tissue of 1/100 patients in cohort A. In cohort, B, three colonic liquid samples tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR, and viral nucleocapsid protein was detected in the epithelium of the respective biopsy samples. However, no infectious virions were recovered from any samples. In vitro exposure of SARS-CoV-2 to colonic liquid led to a 4-log fold reduction of infectious SARS-CoV-2 within 1 hour (P ≤ 0.05).
Conclusions: Overall, the persistent detection of SARS-CoV-2 in endoscopy samples after resolution of COVID-19 points to the gut as a long-term reservoir for SARS-CoV-2. Since no infectious virions were recovered and SARS-CoV-2 was rapidly inactivated in the presence of colon liquids, it is unlikely that performing endoscopic procedures is associated with a significant infection risk due to undiagnosed asymptomatic or persistent gastrointestinal SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Keywords: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; CT, cycle threshold; E gene, envelope gene; Endoscopy; GI, gastrointestinal; N gene, nucleocapsid gene; NP, nucleocapsid protein; PFU, plaque-forming units; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; colonic liquid; qRT-PCR, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; transmission risk.