tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Infect Dis
. 2021 Feb 2;S1201-9712(21)00080-1.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.01.068. Online ahead of print.
Temporal profile of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in posterior nasopharyngeal samples: analysis of 944 patients in Apulia, Italy
Moris Sangineto[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fabio Arena[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rosella De Nittis[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Rosanna Villani[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Crescenzio Gallo[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Gaetano Serviddio[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been heavily experienced in Italy. The severe restriction rules notably attenuated the hospital care burden. The association of high viral replication with disease severity suggests a potential role of a lower viral load in the mild clinical scenario.
Methods: The reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) profile of 944 consecutive, non-replicate, positive retropharyngeal swabs were collected from March-3[SUP]rd[/SUP] to June-8[SUP]th[/SUP], in order to investigate the temporal profile of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the whole region of Capitanata, Apulia, during the pandemic wave course. Cycle threshold (Ct) values of three targets (i.e. N, E and RdRP) were analysed.
Results: The three targets median Ct values considerably increased during the time, showing a progressive and constant weekly change. Moreover, the negative detection rate of E and RdRP notably increased over time. These data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 viral load progressively decreased along the outbreak course. During the first epidemic peak (March and April) people older than 80-years showed a viral load significantly higher compared to younger subjects. However, in May, this age-dependent difference disappeared, underlying the considerable viral load reduction in the elderly.
Conclusions: An attenuation of viral transmission or pathogenicity during epidemic course is suggested, likely due to restriction rules, although viral factors might be considered.
Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Pandemic; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; Viral Load.
. 2021 Feb 2;S1201-9712(21)00080-1.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.01.068. Online ahead of print.
Temporal profile of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in posterior nasopharyngeal samples: analysis of 944 patients in Apulia, Italy
Moris Sangineto[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fabio Arena[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rosella De Nittis[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Rosanna Villani[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Crescenzio Gallo[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Gaetano Serviddio[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33545362
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.01.068
Abstract
Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been heavily experienced in Italy. The severe restriction rules notably attenuated the hospital care burden. The association of high viral replication with disease severity suggests a potential role of a lower viral load in the mild clinical scenario.
Methods: The reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) profile of 944 consecutive, non-replicate, positive retropharyngeal swabs were collected from March-3[SUP]rd[/SUP] to June-8[SUP]th[/SUP], in order to investigate the temporal profile of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the whole region of Capitanata, Apulia, during the pandemic wave course. Cycle threshold (Ct) values of three targets (i.e. N, E and RdRP) were analysed.
Results: The three targets median Ct values considerably increased during the time, showing a progressive and constant weekly change. Moreover, the negative detection rate of E and RdRP notably increased over time. These data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 viral load progressively decreased along the outbreak course. During the first epidemic peak (March and April) people older than 80-years showed a viral load significantly higher compared to younger subjects. However, in May, this age-dependent difference disappeared, underlying the considerable viral load reduction in the elderly.
Conclusions: An attenuation of viral transmission or pathogenicity during epidemic course is suggested, likely due to restriction rules, although viral factors might be considered.
Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Pandemic; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; Viral Load.