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Virology Journal
Published in: Virology Journal 1/2022

01-12-2022 | Herpes Virus | Research

Herpesvirus and neurological manifestations in patients with severe coronavirus disease

Authors: Vanessa Cristine de Souza Carneiro, Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon, Dmitry José de Santana Sarmento, Wagner Luis da Costa Nunes Pimentel Coelho, Otacilio da Cruz Moreira, Andreza Lemos Salvio, Carlos Henrique Ferreira Ramos, Carlos Henrique Ferreira Ramos Filho, Carla Augusta Barreto Marques, João Paulo da Costa Gonçalves, Luciane Almeida Amado Leon, Vanessa Salete de Paula

Published in: Virology Journal | Issue 1/2022

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Abstract

Background

Certain clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) mimic those associated with human herpesvirus (HHV) infection. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of herpesvirus in patients with COVID-19 and determined if coinfection is associated with poorer outcomes and neurological symptoms.

Methods

We analyzed samples of 53 patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The samples were evaluated for the presence of alphaherpesviruses, betaherpesviruses, and gammaherpesviruses, and the viral loads were quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) method.

Results

Among the patients, in 79.2% had detection at least one type of herpesvirus. HHV-6 (47.2%), cytomegalovirus (43.3%), and HHV-7 (39.6%) showed the highest detection rates. Patients with a high severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) load were more likely to show herpes simplex virus 1 detection (p = 0.037). Among patients coinfected with SARS-CoV-2 and HHVs, 26.4% showed central nervous system-associated neurological symptoms and herpetic manifestations. A statistically significant association was observed between neurological changes and HHV-6 detection (p = 0.034).

Conclusions

The findings showed a high prevalence of herpesvirus in patients with COVID-19. Furthermore, even though SARS-CoV-2 and HHV coinfection was not associated with poorer outcomes, the findings demonstrated the association between neurological symptoms and HHV-6 detection.
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Metadata
Title
Herpesvirus and neurological manifestations in patients with severe coronavirus disease
Authors
Vanessa Cristine de Souza Carneiro
Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon
Dmitry José de Santana Sarmento
Wagner Luis da Costa Nunes Pimentel Coelho
Otacilio da Cruz Moreira
Andreza Lemos Salvio
Carlos Henrique Ferreira Ramos
Carlos Henrique Ferreira Ramos Filho
Carla Augusta Barreto Marques
João Paulo da Costa Gonçalves
Luciane Almeida Amado Leon
Vanessa Salete de Paula
Publication date
01-12-2022
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Virology Journal / Issue 1/2022
Electronic ISSN: 1743-422X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-022-01828-9

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