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International Journal of Colorectal Disease

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01-03-2021 | SARS-CoV-2 | Review

Fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2: review of laboratory-confirmed virus in gastrointestinal system

Authors: Dajana Cuicchi, Tiziana Lazzarotto, Gilberto Poggioli

Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease | Issue 3/2021

Abstract

Purpose

The objective was to collect the data available regarding the presence of laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in gastrointestinal system and to evaluate whether the digestive system could contribute to viral transmission.

Methods

Bibliographic databases were searched to identify all studies documenting, in adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): (1) the presence of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid in the feces; (2) the presence of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid in the intestinal cells; (3) live SARS-CoV-2 in the feces.

Results

Twenty seven met the inclusion criteria. In 26 studies, the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid in the feces of COVID-19 patients had been reported. Out of the 671 patients, 312 (46.5%) had a positive stool sample for viral nucleic acid. Of these patients, 63.9% remained positive for viral nucleic acid in the feces after pharyngeal swabs became negative; Three studies also evaluated the viral ribonucleic acid in the gastrointestinal tissues and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was found in samples of 3 patients out of 8 examined (37.5%). The presence of the live virus in stool samples was confirmed in two studies but no in in a recent study from Germany. These results suggested that SARS-CoV-2 could infect gastrointestinal epithelial cells and it may be transmitted through the digestive tract.

Conclusion

In order to control the pandemic, every effort should be made to understand all the possible routes of transmission of the infections, even the less important ones.

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Title: Fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2: review of laboratory-confirmed virus in gastrointestinal system
Authors: Dajana Cuicchi
Tiziana Lazzarotto
Gilberto Poggioli
Publication date: 01-03-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Published in: International Journal of Colorectal Disease / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 0179-1958
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1262
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-020-03785-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2: review of laboratory-confirmed virus in gastrointestinal system

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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