SARS-CoV-2 Presence in the Saliva, Tears, and Cerumen of COVID-19 Patients.

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. Cross Sectional Study. 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. 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. 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. 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E1677-E1682, 2021.

Hanege FM ，Kocoglu E ，Kalcioglu MT ，Celik S ，Cag Y ，Esen F ，Bayindir E ，Pence S ，Alp Mese E ，Agalar C ... -  《-》

Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in Tears of Patients with Moderate to Severe COVID-19.

To investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in tears of patients with moderate to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cross-sectional study. Patients with laboratory-proven moderate to severe COVID-19. Tears were collected within 48 hours of laboratory confirmation using 3 methods: conjunctival swab plus Schirmer's test strips (group 1), conjunctival swab (group 2), and Schirmer's test strips (group 3). Samples from both the eyes of each patient were transported in a single viral transport media for real-time RT-PCR. Detailed demographic profiles, systemic symptoms, comorbidities, and ocular manifestations were noted. Viral load of a sample was determined using cycle threshold (Ct) value of E gene. A specimen was considered to show positive results if the amplification curve for the E gene crossed the threshold line within 35 cycles and if it showed positive results on an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase or open reading frame 1b gene assay. Of the 78 patients enrolled in the study, samples from 3 patients were found to be inadequate for analysis. Thirty-six patients (48%) had moderate disease, whereas 39 patients (52%) had severe disease, with no ocular involvement in any patient. In the 75 patients, RT-PCR analysis of tears showed positive results in 18 patients (24%), and 29 of 225 samples (12.9%) showed positive results. Positive results were found in 11 (14.7%), 11 (14.7%), and 7 (9.3%) patients in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P = 0.3105). Mean Ct values in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 28.36 ± 6.15, 29.00 ± 5.58, and 27.86 ± 6.46 (P = 0.92), respectively. Five patients showed positive RT-PCR results by all 3 methods (mean Ct value, 25.24 ± 6.33), and 12 patients showed positive results by any of the 3 methods (mean Ct value, 32.16 ± 1.94), the difference in Ct values being statistically significant (P = 0.029). The median value of symptomatology in patients with positive RT-PCR results from tears was 5 days (range, 4-9 days). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in tears of 24% of patients with laboratory-proven moderate to severe COVID-19. Conjunctival swab remains the gold standard of tear collection for RT-PCR assay. A significantly higher possibility of viral transmission exists through tears in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Arora R ，Goel R ，Kumar S ，Chhabra M ，Saxena S ，Manchanda V ，Pumma P ... -  《-》

Comparative Evaluation of Tears and Nasopharyngeal Swab for SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 Dedicated Intensive Care Unit Patients.

Arora R ，Goel R ，Saxena S ，Manchanda V ，Ahmad M ，Gupta G ，Chhabra M ，Kumar S ，Nguyen TMN ，Payden ，Pumma P ，Saxena K ... -  《-》

Accuracy of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction in COVID-19 Patients.

Lawrence Panchali MJ ，Oh HJ ，Lee YM ，Kim CM ，Tariq M ，Seo JW ，Kim DY ，Yun NR ，Kim DM ... -  《Microbiology Spectrum》

Are Posterior Oropharyngeal Saliva Specimens an Acceptable Alternative to Nasopharyngeal Sampling for the Monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in Primary-Care Settings?

Masse S ，Bonnet C ，Vilcu AM ，Benamar H ，Swital M ，van der Werf S ，Carrat F ，Hanslik T ，Blanchon T ，Falchi A ... -  《Viruses-Basel》