[Source: Journal of Medical Virology, full page: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
Features of Enteric Disease from Human Coronaviruses: Implications for COVID‐19
Nevio Cimolai MD, FRCP(C)
First published: 28 May 2020 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26066
This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1002/jmv.26066
Abstract
Coronaviruses have long been studied in both human and veterinary fields. Whereas the initial detection of endemic human respiratory coronaviruses was problematic, detection of these and newly discovered human coronaviruses has been greatly facilitated with major advances in the laboratory. Nevertheless, technological factors can affect the accuracy and timeliness of virus detection. Many human coronaviruses can be variably found in stool samples. All human coronaviruses have been variably associated with symptoms of gastroenteritis. Coronaviruses can occasionally be cultured from enteric specimens, but most detection is accomplished with genetic amplification technologies. Excretion of viral RNA in stool can extend for a prolonged period. Culture‐positive stool samples have been found to exceed a fourteen day period after onset of infection for some coronaviruses. Virus can also sometimes be cultured from patients’ respiratory samples during the late incubation period. Relatively asymptomatic patients may excrete virus. Both viable and non‐viable virus can be found in the immediate environment of the patient, the health care worker, and less often the public. These lessons from the past study of animal and human coronaviruses can be extended to presumptions for SARS‐CoV‐2. Already, the early reports from the COVID‐19 pandemic are confirming some concerns. This data has the cumulative potential to cause us to rethink some current and common public health and infection control strategies.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
–
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Gastroenterology.
——
