Wuhan, Hubei

We present severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) real-time RT-PCR results of all respiratory and faecal samples from patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China, throughout the course of their illness and obligated quarantine period....

 

Between Jan 16 and March 15, 2020, we enrolled 98 patients. Both respiratory and faecal samples were collected from 74 (76%) patients. Faecal samples from 33 (45%) of 74 patients were negative for SARS CoV-2 RNA, while their respiratory swabs remained positive for a mean of 15·4 days (SD 6·7) from first symptom onset. Of the 41 (55%) of 74 patients with faecal samples that were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, respiratory samples remained positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA for a mean of 16·7 days (SD 6·7) and faecal samples remained positive for a mean of 27·9 days (10·7) after first symptom onset (ie, for a mean of 11·2 days [9·2] longer than for respiratory samples)....

 

Notably, patient 1 had positive faecal samples for 33 days continuously after the respiratory samples became negative, and patient 4 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in their faecal sample for 47 days after first symptom onset (appendix pp 4–5). The presence of gastrointestinal symptoms was not associated with faecal sample viral RNA positivity (p=0·45); disease severity was not associated with extended duration of faecal sample viral RNA positivity (p=0·60); however, antiviral treatment was positively associated with the presence of viral RNA in faecal samples (p=0·025; appendix pp 2–3). 

 

Our data suggest the possibility of extended duration of viral shedding in faeces, for nearly 5 weeks after the patients’ respiratory samples tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. No cases of transmission via the faecal–oral route have yet been reported for SARS-CoV-2, which might suggest that infection via this route is unlikely in quarantine facilities, in hospital, or while under self-isolation. However, potential faecal–oral transmission might pose an increased risk in contained living premises such as hostels, dormitories, trains, buses, and cruise ships.

 

Full Study available in The Lancet (March 19, 2020):

https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(20)30083-2

Via Juan Lama

A preprint of a study conducted by researchers from Utrecht University, in collaboration with Erasmus MC and Harbor BioMed, outlines the first report of a human monoclonal antibody that can block SARS-CoV-2.

Via Krishan Maggon

Abstract
Last decade witnessed the outbreak of many life-threatening human pathogens including Nipah, Ebola, Chikungunya,
Zika, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), Severe Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus
(SARS-CoV) and more recently novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV or SARS-CoV-2). The disease condition associated with
novel coronavirus, referred to as Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The emergence of novel coronavirus in 2019 in
Wuhan, China marked the third highly pathogenic coronavirus infecting humans in the 21st century. The continuing
emergence of coronaviruses at regular intervals poses a significant threat to human health and economy. Ironically, even
after a decade of research on coronavirus, still there are no licensed vaccines or therapeutic agents to treat coronavirus
infection which highlights an urgent need to develop effective vaccines or post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent future
epidemics. Several clinical, genetic and epidemiological features of COVID-19 resemble SARS-CoV infection. Hence,
the research advancements on SARS-CoV treatment might help scientific community in quick understanding of this
virus pathogenesis and develop effective therapeutic/prophylactic agents to treat and prevent this infection. Monoclonal antibodies represent the major class of biotherapeutics for passive immunotherapy to fight against viral infection.
The therapeutic potential of monoclonal antibodies has been well recognized in the treatment of many diseases. Here, we
summarize the potential monoclonal antibody based therapeutic intervention for COVID-19 by considering the existing
knowledge on the neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against similar coronaviruses SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Further
research on COVID-19 pathogenesis could identify appropriate therapeutic targets to develop specific anti-virals against
this newly emerging pathogen.
Key words: Coronavirus; Emerging threat; Monoclonal Antibody, Immunotherapy, Infectious diseases; Viruses; Zoonoses

Via Krishan Maggon

This case series describes reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test results in 4 health professionals discharged from hospitalization or qu...

Le centre-ville de Wuhan, capitale de la province du Hubei, dans le centre de la Chine, demeure une zone à haut risque de coronavirus, a indiqué dimanche le...

Researchers and clinicians in the U.S.and China say findings in lung tissue provide "a good clue for early diagnosis in the future."...

Since late December, 2019, an outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19; previously
known as 2019-nCoV)1,2 was reported in Wuhan, China,2 which has subsequently affected
26 countries worldwide.