Prolonged presence of replication-competent SARS-CoV-2 in mildly symptomatic individuals: A report of two cases

Author(s):Show less -

Mendes Correa, Maria C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Leal, Fabio E. ^{[3, 4]} ; Villas Boas, Lucy S. ^[2] ; Witkin, Steven S. ^{[5, 2]} ; de Paula, Anderson ^[2] ; Tozetto Mendonza, Tania R. ^[2] ; Ferreira, Noely E. ^[2] ; Curty, Gislaine ^[4] ; de Carvalho, Pedro S. ^[4] ; Buss, Lewis F. ^[1] ; Costa, Silvia F. ^[6] ; da Cunha Carvalho, Flavia M. ^[6] ; Kawakami, Joyce ^[7] ; Taniwaki, Noemi N. ^[8] ; Paiao, Heuder ^[2] ; da Silva Bizario, Joao C. ^[3] ; de Jesus, Jaqueline G. ^{[1, 6]} ; Sabino, Ester C. ^{[1, 6]} ; Romano, Camila M. ^[2] ; Grepan, Regina M. Z. ^[3] ; Sesso, Antonio ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Molestias Infecciosas & Parasitarias, Fac Med, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, Lab Invest Med Virol LIM52, Fac Med, Ave Dr Eneas Carvalho Aguiar 470, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Municipal Sao Caetano Sul, Fac Med, Sao Caetano do Sul, SP - Brazil

^[4] Inst Nacl Canc Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[5] Weill Cornell Med, New York, NY - USA

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[7] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Coracao Hosp Clin, Fac Med, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[8] Inst Adolf Lutz Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Medical Virology; v. 93, n. 9, p. 5603-5607, SEP 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

It has been estimated that individuals with COVID-19 can shed replication-competent virus up to a maximum of 20 days after initiation of symptoms. The majority of studies that addressed this situation involved hospitalized individuals and those with severe disease. Studies to address the possible presence of SARS-CoV-2 during the different phases of COVID-19 disease in mildly infected individuals, and utilization of viral culture techniques to identify replication-competent viruses, have been limited. This report describes two patients with mild forms of the disease who shed replication-competent virus for 24 and 37 days, respectively, after symptom onset. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/05623-0 - SARS-CoV2 detection, in different biological specimens, among people infected with this virus
• Grantee: Maria Cássia Jacintho Mendes Corrêa
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants