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Berdygulova Z, Maltseva E, Perfilyeva Y, Nizkorodova A, Zhigailov A, Naizabayeva D, Ostapchuk YO, Kuatbekova S, Dosmagambet Z, Kuatbek M, Bissenbay A, Cherusheva A, Mashzhan A, Abdolla N, Ashimbekov S, Ismagulova G, Dmitrovskiy A, Mamadaliyev S, Skiba Y. RT-qPCR investigation of post-mortem tissues during COVID-19. J Appl Biomed 2024; 22:115-122. [PMID: 38912867 DOI: 10.32725/jab.2024.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2020, there were numerous cases in Kazakhstan with clinical symptoms of COVID-19 but negative PCR results in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. The diagnosis was confirmed clinically and by CT scans (computed tomography). The problem with such negative PCR results for SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmation still exists and indicates the need to confirm the diagnosis in the bronchoalveolar lavage in such cases. There is also a lack of information about confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in deceased patients. In this study, various tissue materials, including lungs, bronchi, and trachea, were examined from eight patients who died, presumably from SARS-CoV-2 infection, between 2020 and 2022. Naso/oropharyngeal swabs taken from these patients in hospitals tested PCR negative for SARS-CoV-2. This study presents a modified RNA isolation method based on a comparison of the most used methods for RNA isolation in laboratories: QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit and TRIzol-based method. This modified nucleic acid extraction protocol can be used to confirm SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-qPCR in the tissues of deceased patients in disputed cases. RT-qPCR with RNA of SARS-CoV-2 re-extracted with such method from post-mortem tissues that were stored at -80 °C for more than 32 months still demonstrated high-yielding positive results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanna Berdygulova
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Elina Maltseva
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Tethys Scientific Society, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Yuliya Perfilyeva
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Anna Nizkorodova
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Andrey Zhigailov
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Dinara Naizabayeva
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Tethys Scientific Society, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Yekaterina O Ostapchuk
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Saltanat Kuatbekova
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhaniya Dosmagambet
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Moldir Kuatbek
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Akerke Bissenbay
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Alena Cherusheva
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Akzhigit Mashzhan
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Nurshat Abdolla
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | | | - Gulnara Ismagulova
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Andrey Dmitrovskiy
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Seidigapbar Mamadaliyev
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Yuriy Skiba
- Almaty Branch of the National Center for Biotechnology, Central Reference Laboratory, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- M. A. Aitkhozhin Institute of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Tethys Scientific Society, Almaty, Kazakhstan
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Miyashiro RA, McFarland W. A Year of Deaths Due to or With COVID-19 Under Universal Postmortem Testing in San Francisco. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2024; 45:40-44. [PMID: 38064360 DOI: 10.1097/paf.0000000000000907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The Health Officer of the City and County of San Francisco, California, issued the order that all decedents were required to have a documented COVID-19 test effective from June 2020 to June 2021. The justification for the requirement was that complete data on COVID-19 status at the time of death were needed to help protect first responders and funeral home workers, identify missed cases, and characterize the places of death for otherwise unknown COVID-19 cases. To fill the gap in COVID-19 testing for all decedents, particularly among persons dying outside of hospitals, a specialized Decedent Testing Unit was created along with an increased capacity of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. From July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, the Decedent Testing Unit and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner provided postmortem testing results for 2776 decedents. Of these, 80 tested positive for COVID-19 for a positivity rate of 2.97%. The largest number of COVID-19-positive specimens were collected from persons who died at home (n = 37, 46.3%), followed by those who died in hospice (n = 20, 25.0%), other places outside of homes or facilities (n = 8, 10.0%), and in skilled nursing or long-term care facilities (n = 7, 8.8%). Follow-up of California death records found that 17 of these 80 cases (21.3%) had COVID-19 listed as one of the causes of death, 22 (27.5%) mentioned COVID-19 under "other conditions," and 41 (51.3%) made no mention of COVID-19. In the context of providing the COVID-19 status of decedents not otherwise known to have infection, our data help gauge the likelihood of missing deaths due to or with COVID-19 and inform future public health decisions on whether to require universal postmortem testing with COVID-19 resurgences or with new deadly epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rand A Miyashiro
- From the Office of the City Administrator, City and County of San Francisco, CA
| | - Willi McFarland
- San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA
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Maffia-Bizzozero S, Cevallos C, Lenicov FR, Freiberger RN, Lopez CAM, Guano Toaquiza A, Sviercz F, Jarmoluk P, Bustos C, D’Addario AC, Quarleri J, Delpino MV. Viable SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-variants isolated from autopsy tissues. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1192832. [PMID: 37283920 PMCID: PMC10240073 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1192832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations have been described after infection with SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The virus is known to persist in multiple organs due to its tropism for several tissues. However, previous reports were unable to provide definitive information about whether the virus is viable and transmissible. It has been hypothesized that the persisting reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 in tissues could be one of the multiple potentially overlapping causes of long COVID. Methods In the present study, we investigated autopsy materials obtained from 21 cadaveric donors with documented first infection or reinfection at the time of death. The cases studied included recipients of different formulations of COVID-19 vaccines. The aim was to find the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, and intestines. We used two technical approaches: the detection and quantification of viral genomic RNA using RT-qPCR, and virus infectivity using permissive in vitro Vero E6 culture. Results All tissues analyzed showed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA but at dissimilar levels ranging from 1.01 × 102 copies/mL to 1.14 × 108 copies/mL, even among those cases who had been COVID-19 vaccinated. Importantly, different amounts of replication-competent virus were detected in the culture media from the studied tissues. The highest viral load were measured in the lung (≈1.4 × 106 copies/mL) and heart (≈1.9 × 106 copies/mL) samples. Additionally, based on partial Spike gene sequences, SARS-CoV-2 characterization revealed the presence of multiple Omicron sub-variants exhibiting a high level of nucleotide and amino acid identity among them. Discussion These findings highlight that SARS-CoV-2 can spread to multiple tissue locations such as the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, and intestines, both after primary infection and after reinfections with the Omicron variant, contributing to extending knowledge about the pathogenesis of acute infection and understanding the sequelae of clinical manifestations that are observed during post-acute COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cintia Cevallos
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Federico Remes Lenicov
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Rosa Nicole Freiberger
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cinthya Alicia Marcela Lopez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alex Guano Toaquiza
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Franco Sviercz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricio Jarmoluk
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | - Jorge Quarleri
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M. Victoria Delpino
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 RNA after fixation of cadavers intended for anatomical dissection. Anat Sci Int 2023:10.1007/s12565-023-00707-9. [PMID: 36869879 PMCID: PMC9985082 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-023-00707-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a problem arose with classic body donation programmes for obtaining cadavers for anatomical dissections, science and research. The question has emerged whether bodies of individuals who died of COVID-19 or were infected by SARS-CoV-2 could be admitted to Departments of Anatomy. To determine the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to employees or students, the presence and stability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cadavers after fixation agents' application and subsequent post-fixation baths over time were examined. The presence of viral RNA in swabs from selected tissues was assessed by the standardized routine RNA isolation protocol and subsequent real-time PCR analysis. To support the results obtained from the tissue swabs, samples of RNA were exposed in vitro to short and long-term exposure to the components of the injection and fixation solutions used for the bodies' conservation. Substantial removal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed in post-mortem tissue following perfusion with 3.5% phenol, 2.2% formaldehyde, 11.8% glycerol and 55% ethanol, and subsequent post-fixation in an ethanol bath. In vitro experiments showed significant effects of formaldehyde on SARS-CoV-2 RNA, while phenol and ethanol showed only negligible effects. We conclude that cadavers subjected to fixation protocols as described here should not pose a considerable risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection while being handled by students and staff and are, therefore, suitable for routine anatomical dissections and teaching.
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Putra SP, Hidayat T, Zhuhra RT. SARS-CoV-2 persistence and infectivity in COVID-19 corpses: a systematic review. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2023; 19:94-102. [PMID: 36001241 PMCID: PMC9399587 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-022-00518-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The persistence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in different postmortem COVID-19 specimens remain unclear despite numerous published studies. This information is essential to improve corpses management related to clinical biosafety and viral transmission in medical staff and the public community. We aim to understand SARS-CoV-2 persistence and infectivity in COVID-19 corpses. We conducted a systematic review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocols. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Science Direct Scopus, and Google Scholar databases using specific keywords. We critically reviewed the collected studies and selected the articles that met the criteria. We included 33 scientific papers that involved 491 COVID-19 corpses. The persistence rate and maximum postmortem interval (PMI) range of the SARS-CoV-2 findings were reported in the lungs (138/155, 89.0%; 4 months), followed by the vitreous humor (7/37, 18.9%; 3 months), nasopharynx/oropharynx (156/248, 62.9%; 41 days), abdominal organs (67/110, 60.9%; 17 days), skin (14/24, 58.3%; 17 days), brain (14/31, 45.2%; 17 days), bone marrow (2/2, 100%; 12 days), heart (31/69, 44.9%; 6 days), muscle tissues (9/83, 10.8%; 6 days), trachea (9/20, 45.0%; 5 days), and perioral tissues (21/24, 87.5%; 3.5 days). SARS-CoV-2 infectivity rates in viral culture studies were detected in the lungs (9/15, 60%), trachea (2/4, 50%), oropharynx (1/4, 25%), and perioral (1/4, 25%) at a maximum PMI range of 17 days. The SARS-CoV-2 persists in the human body months after death and should be infectious for weeks. This data should be helpful for postmortem COVID-19 management and viral transmission preventive strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syandrez Prima Putra
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Microbiology, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia.
| | - Taufik Hidayat
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia
| | - Rahma Tsania Zhuhra
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia
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Pardo-Seco J, Bello X, Gómez-Carballa A, Martinón-Torres F, Muñoz-Barús JI, Salas A. A Timeframe for SARS-CoV-2 Genomes: A Proof of Concept for Postmortem Interval Estimations. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12899. [PMID: 36361690 PMCID: PMC9656715 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Establishing the timeframe when a particular virus was circulating in a population could be useful in several areas of biomedical research, including microbiology and legal medicine. Using simulations, we demonstrate that the circulation timeframe of an unknown SARS-CoV-2 genome in a population (hereafter, estimated time of a queried genome [QG]; tE-QG) can be easily predicted using a phylogenetic model based on a robust reference genome database of the virus, and information on their sampling dates. We evaluate several phylogeny-based approaches, including modeling evolutionary (substitution) rates of the SARS-CoV-2 genome (~10-3 substitutions/nucleotide/year) and the mutational (substitutions) differences separating the QGs from the reference genomes (RGs) in the database. Owing to the mutational characteristics of the virus, the present Viral Molecular Clock Dating (VMCD) method covers timeframes going backwards from about a month in the past. The method has very low errors associated to the tE-QG estimates and narrow intervals of tE-QG, both ranging from a few days to a few weeks regardless of the mathematical model used. The SARS-CoV-2 model represents a proof of concept that can be extrapolated to any other microorganism, provided that a robust genome sequence database is available. Besides obvious applications in epidemiology and microbiology investigations, there are several contexts in forensic casework where estimating tE-QG could be useful, including estimation of the postmortem intervals (PMI) and the dating of samples stored in hospital settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobo Pardo-Seco
- Grupo de Investigacion en Genética, Vacunas, Infecciones y Pediatría (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- GenPoB Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago (SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Unidade de Xenética, Instituto de Ciencias Forenses (INCIFOR), Facultade de Medicina, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - Xabier Bello
- Grupo de Investigacion en Genética, Vacunas, Infecciones y Pediatría (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- GenPoB Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago (SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Unidade de Xenética, Instituto de Ciencias Forenses (INCIFOR), Facultade de Medicina, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Gómez-Carballa
- Grupo de Investigacion en Genética, Vacunas, Infecciones y Pediatría (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- GenPoB Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago (SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Unidade de Xenética, Instituto de Ciencias Forenses (INCIFOR), Facultade de Medicina, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Grupo de Investigacion en Genética, Vacunas, Infecciones y Pediatría (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - José Ignacio Muñoz-Barús
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Pathology, Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Paediatrics, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Institute of Forensic Sciences (INCIFOR), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Antonio Salas
- Grupo de Investigacion en Genética, Vacunas, Infecciones y Pediatría (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- GenPoB Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago (SERGAS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Unidade de Xenética, Instituto de Ciencias Forenses (INCIFOR), Facultade de Medicina, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
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Ventura F, Drommi M, Barranco R, Balbo A, Errico S, Mangioni M, Molinari G, Di Biagio A, De Pace V, Lai A, Bruzzone B. How Long Can a Dead Body Remain Infectious?: Postmortem Nasopharyngeal Swabs and SARS-CoV-2 Culture in a Corpse Over an 87-Day Period. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2022; 43:215-219. [PMID: 35816029 DOI: 10.1097/paf.0000000000000779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic involved several changes and difficulties in the work of forensic pathologists. Postmortem nasopharyngeal swabs for the diagnosis of the SARS-CoV-2 infection are recommended before an autopsy examination by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Autopsy examinations must not be performed for SARS-CoV-2 infection cases when airborne infection isolation rooms or other suitable spaces are unavailable. However, it has not yet been reported whether the presence of SARS-CoV-2 at a low viral load may be enough to infect and disseminate the contagion.Here, we report the case of a 67-year-old man found dead at home on November 9, 2020, and transferred immediately after to the Genova District Mortuary. As the first postmortem molecular nasopharyngeal swab resulted positive, a weekly sampling was carried until February 4, 2021. All the molecular tests were positive for SARS-CoV-2, including the last swab performed 87 days after the arrival of the corpse at the morgue. Virus isolation conducted on VERO E6 cells revealed no cytopathic effect indicating no viral replication as early as 18 days after the corpse's arrival at the morgue and until January 2021.Our findings suggest that the presence of the genome of SARS-CoV-2 at low viral load should not be considered a sign of an active infection but a trace of a remaining viral genome from a previous infection. Then, if the virus shows no replication activity, its molecular detection should not constitute a threat to public health. Further studies are required to establish the infection's potential and its correlation with viral load.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martina Drommi
- From the Department of Forensic and Legal Medicine, University of Genova
| | - Rosario Barranco
- From the Department of Forensic and Legal Medicine, University of Genova
| | - Arianna Balbo
- From the Department of Forensic and Legal Medicine, University of Genova
| | - Stefano Errico
- From the Department of Forensic and Legal Medicine, University of Genova
| | - Manuela Mangioni
- From the Department of Forensic and Legal Medicine, University of Genova
| | - Giulia Molinari
- From the Department of Forensic and Legal Medicine, University of Genova
| | | | - Vanessa De Pace
- Department of Health Sciences, Hygiene Unit, Policlinico San Martino Hospital, University of Genova, Genoa
| | - Alessia Lai
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Bianca Bruzzone
- Department of Health Sciences, Hygiene Unit, Policlinico San Martino Hospital, University of Genova, Genoa
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8
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Shankar P, Singh J, Joshi A, Malhotra AG, Shrivas A, Goel G, Gupta P, Yadav J, Saigal S, Singh S, Purwar S. Organ Involvement in COVID-19: A Molecular Investigation of Autopsied Patients. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10071333. [PMID: 35889052 PMCID: PMC9318581 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Precise reasons for severe manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 remain unanswered, and efforts have been focused on respiratory system management. Demonstration of unequivocal presence of SARS-CoV-2 in vital body organs by cadaver autopsy was the only way to prove multi-organ involvement. Hence, the primary objective of the study was to determine presence of the SARS-CoV-2 in various organs of patients succumbing to SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 246 samples from different organs of 21 patients who died due to severe COVID-19 illness were investigated by qRT-PCR, and SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 181 (73.57%) samples and highest positivity of SARS-CoV-2 being (expectedly) found in nasopharynx (90.4%) followed by bilateral lungs (87.30%), peritoneal fluid (80%), pancreas (72.72%), bilateral kidneys (68.42%), liver (65%) and even in brain (47.2%). The deceased patients were categorized to three subgroups based upon the extent of organs in which SARS-CoV-2 was detected by qRT-PCR (high intensity ≥80%, intermediate intensity = 65-80% and low intensity ≤65% organs involvement). It was conclusively established that SARS-CoV-2 has the property of invasion beyond lungs and even crosses the blood-brain barrier, resulting in multi-system disease; this is probably the reason behind cytokine storm, though it is not clear whether organ damage is due to direct injury caused by the virus or result of inflammatory assault. Significant inverse correlation was found between the Ct value of lung samples and number of organs involved, implying that higher viral load in lungs is directly proportionate to involvement of extrapulmonary organs and patients with higher viral load in respiratory secretions should be monitored more closely for any warning signs and the treatment strategies should also address involvement of other organs for better outcome, because lungs, though the primary site of infection, are not the only organ system responsible for pathogenesis of systemic illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prem Shankar
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Jitendra Singh
- Department of Translational Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Ankur Joshi
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Anvita Gupta Malhotra
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Arti Shrivas
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Garima Goel
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Priyal Gupta
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Jayanthi Yadav
- Department of Forensic Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Saurabh Saigal
- Anaesthesia and Critical Care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
| | - Sarman Singh
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Bhopal 462066, India
| | - Shashank Purwar
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal 462020, India
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9
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Gheware A, Ray A, Rana D, Bajpai P, Nambirajan A, Arulselvi S, Mathur P, Trikha A, Arava S, Das P, Mridha AR, Singh G, Soneja M, Nischal N, Lalwani S, Wig N, Sarkar C, Jain D. ACE2 protein expression in lung tissues of severe COVID-19 infection. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4058. [PMID: 35260724 PMCID: PMC8902283 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07918-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a key host protein by which severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters and multiplies within cells. The level of ACE2 expression in the lung is hypothesised to correlate with an increased risk of severe infection and complications in COrona VIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). To test this hypothesis, we compared the protein expression status of ACE2 by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in post-mortem lung samples of patients who died of severe COVID-19 and lung samples obtained from non-COVID-19 patients for other indications. IHC for CD61 and CD163 was performed for the assessment of platelet-rich microthrombi and macrophages, respectively. IHC for SARS-CoV-2 viral antigen was also performed. In a total of 55, 44 COVID-19 post-mortem lung samples were tested for ACE2, 36 for CD163, and 26 for CD61, compared to 15 non-covid 19 control lung sections. Quantification of immunostaining, random sampling, and correlation analysis were used to substantiate the morphologic findings. Our results show that ACE2 protein expression was significantly higher in COVID-19 post-mortem lung tissues than in controls, regardless of sample size. Histomorphology in COVID-19 lungs showed diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), acute bronchopneumonia, and acute lung injury with SARS-CoV-2 viral protein detected in a subset of cases. ACE2 expression levels were positively correlated with increased expression levels of CD61 and CD163. In conclusion, our results show significantly higher ACE2 protein expression in severe COVID-19 disease, correlating with increased macrophage infiltration and microthrombi, suggesting a pathobiological role in disease severity.
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Grants
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
- A-COVID 40 This work is supported by intramural funding from the research section of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atish Gheware
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Animesh Ray
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Deeksha Rana
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Prashant Bajpai
- Emory Vaccine Center, International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Aruna Nambirajan
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - S Arulselvi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, JPNATC, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Purva Mathur
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, JPNATC, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Anjan Trikha
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Sudheer Arava
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Prasenjit Das
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Asit Ranjan Mridha
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Geetika Singh
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Manish Soneja
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Neeraj Nischal
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Sanjeev Lalwani
- Division of Forensic Pathology and Molecular Laboratory, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Naveet Wig
- Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Chitra Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Deepali Jain
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
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10
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Maccio U, Zinkernagel AS, Schuepbach R, Probst-Mueller E, Frontzek K, Brugger SD, Hofmaenner DA, Moch H, Varga Z. Long-Term Persisting SARS-CoV-2 RNA and Pathological Findings: Lessons Learnt From a Series of 35 COVID-19 Autopsies. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:778489. [PMID: 35223894 PMCID: PMC8865372 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.778489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), including the interaction between persisting viral-RNA and specific tissue involvement, pose a challenging issue. In this study, we addressed the chronological correlation (after first clinical diagnosis and postmortem) between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA and organ involvement. METHODS The presence of postmortem SARS-CoV-2 RNA from 35 complete COVID-19 autopsies was correlated with the time interval between the first diagnosis of COVID-19 and death and with its relationship to morphologic findings. RESULTS Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA can be evident up to 40 days after the first diagnosis and can persist to 94 hours after death. Postmortem SARS-CoV-2 RNA was mostly positive in lungs (70%) and trachea (69%), but all investigated organs were positive with variable frequency. Late-stage tissue damage was evident up to 65 days after initial diagnosis in several organs. Positivity for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in pulmonary swabs correlated with diffuse alveolar damage (p = 0.0009). No correlation between positive swabs and other morphologic findings was present. Cerebral (p = 0.0003) and systemic hemorrhages (p = 0.009), cardiac thrombi (p = 0.04), and ischemic events (p = 0.03) were more frequent in the first wave, whereas bacterial pneumonia (p = 0.03) was more prevalent in the second wave. No differences in biometric data, clinical comorbidities, and other autopsy findings were found. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide evidence not only of long-term postmortem persisting SARS-CoV-2 RNA but also of tissue damage several weeks after the first diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Additional conditions, such as concomitant bacterial pulmonary superinfection, lung aspergillosis, thromboembolic phenomena, and hemorrhages can further worsen tissue damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Maccio
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital of Zürich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annelies S Zinkernagel
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zürich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reto Schuepbach
- Institute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, University Hospital of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Karl Frontzek
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvio D Brugger
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital of Zürich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Andrea Hofmaenner
- Institute of Intensive Care, University Hospital Zurich, University Hospital of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Holger Moch
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital of Zürich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zsuzsanna Varga
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital of Zürich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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11
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Bonelli M, Rosato E, Locatelli M, Tartaglia A, Falco P, Petrarca C, Potenza F, Damiani V, Mandatori D, De Laurenzi V, Stuppia L, D'Ovidio C. Long persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 swab positivity in a drowned corpse: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2022; 16:72. [PMID: 35139890 PMCID: PMC8826670 DOI: 10.1186/s13256-022-03297-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Since the beginning of the worldwide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 to date, important knowledge has been obtained about the virus behavior in living subjects and on inanimate surfaces; however, there is still a lack of data on virus persistency on dead bodies and the risk of contagion from cadavers. Case presentation The present case shows the persistency of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral genome in nasopharyngeal swabs performed on a drowned Caucasian man, aged 41 years old, who was completely asymptomatic when he was alive, up to 41 days after death. Specific real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (TaqMan 2019-nCoV Assay Kit v2; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Italy and Realquality RQ-SARS-CoV-2, AB Analytical) was used to evaluate the swabs. Conclusions This data reflect the importance of postmortem swabs in all autopsy cases, and not only in potential severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-related death, and also highlight the necessity to evaluate virus positivity a long time after the moment of death, even if a low initial viral load was assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Bonelli
- Section of Legal Medicine, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Enrica Rosato
- Section of Legal Medicine, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Marcello Locatelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Chieti-Pescara "G. d'Annunzio", Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Angela Tartaglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Chieti-Pescara "G. d'Annunzio", Via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Pietro Falco
- Division of Legal Medicine, SS. Annunziata Hospital, Chieti, Italy
| | - Claudia Petrarca
- Allergy and Immunotoxicology and Occupational Biorepository, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Francesca Potenza
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Verena Damiani
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Domitilla Mandatori
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Laurenzi
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Liborio Stuppia
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Cristian D'Ovidio
- Section of Legal Medicine, Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100, Chieti, Italy.
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12
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Esposito M, Salerno M, Scoto E, Di Nunno N, Sessa F. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Practice of Forensic Medicine: An Overview. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:319. [PMID: 35206933 PMCID: PMC8871677 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10020319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, forensic sciences, on the one hand, contributed to gaining knowledge about different aspects of the pandemic, while on the other hand, forensic professionals were called on to quickly adapt their activities to respond adequately to the changes imposed by the pandemic. This review aims to clarify the state of the art in forensic medicine at the time of COVID-19, discussing the following: the influence of external factors on forensic activities, the impact of autopsy practice on COVID-19 and vice-versa, the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in post-mortem samples, forensic personnel activities during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the global vaccination program and forensic sciences, forensic undergraduate education during and after the imposed COVID-19 lockdown, and the medico-legal implications in medical malpractice claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly influenced different aspects of human life, and, accordingly, the practical activities of forensic sciences that are defined as multidisciplinary, involving different expertise. Indeed, the activities are very different, including crime scene investigation (CSI), external examination, autopsy, and genetic and toxicological examinations of tissues and/or biological fluids. At the same time, forensic professionals may have direct contact with subjects in life, such as in the case of abuse victims (in some cases involving children), collecting biological samples from suspects, or visiting subjects in the case of physical examinations. In this scenario, forensic professionals are called on to implement methods to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk, wearing adequate PPE, and working in environments with a reduced risk of infection. Consequently, in the pandemic era, the costs involved for forensic sciences were substantially increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Esposito
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (M.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Monica Salerno
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (M.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Edmondo Scoto
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (M.S.); (E.S.)
| | - Nunzio Di Nunno
- Department of History, Society and Studies on Humanity, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
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13
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Di Luise E, Magni PA. Interim recommendations for the management of forensic investigation during the COVID-19 pandemic: An Italian perspective. Sci Justice 2021; 61:735-742. [PMID: 34802647 PMCID: PMC8375245 DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading around the world, representing a global pandemic. In this context, governments from around the world suspended almost all education, industry and business activities, alongside restricting the movement of people. Nevertheless, during this period, the activity of the law enforcement and forensic investigators never stopped. At present, guidelines regarding forensic autopsies of SARS-CoV-2 virus-positive cases and the handling of potentially infected biological samples are available in literature. However, less attention has been given to the development of specific adjustments to the existing crime scene investigation protocols and procedures for this exceptional time. This manuscript aims to share the methods and strategies adopted for the investigation of high priority criminal cases during the pandemic. Furthermore, other pandemic-related processes are critically explored, in order to propose adjustments for any forensic services to be prepared to face similar challenges in the future. The overall goal of this manuscript is to provide a summary of the main measures and the procedures developed to make the operations possible, while safeguarding the technicians in the field and the activity in the forensic laboratory. In order to minimize the risk of infection for personnel, adjustments to the standard practice have been proposed for each of the different phases of crime scene management, i.e. CSI call policy, equipment preparation, working groups, procedure at the scene, chain of custody and analyses of the evidence at the forensic lab. As this is a current study, based on limited cases and limited sources in the literature, changes and updates to the indications provided in this paper may be needed in the near future, according to new virological data epidemiological trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Di Luise
- Commander of Sezione Intervento Operativo (S.I.O.) - Arma Carabinieri, Reparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche (R.I.S.), di Messina, Italy; Laboratory of Forensic Biology, Arma Carabinieri, Reparto Carabinieri Investigazioni Scientifiche (R.I.S.), di Messina, Italy
| | - Paola A Magni
- Discipline of Medical, Molecular & Forensic Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia; Murdoch University Singapore, King's Centre, 390 Havelock Road, Singapore 169662, Singapore.
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14
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Bernardin A, Martínez AJ, Perez-Acle T. On the effectiveness of communication strategies as non-pharmaceutical interventions to tackle epidemics. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257995. [PMID: 34714848 PMCID: PMC8555801 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
When pharmaceutical interventions are unavailable to deal with an epidemic outbreak, adequate management of communication strategies can be key to reduce the contagion risks. On the one hand, accessibility to trustworthy and timely information, whilst on the other, the adoption of preventive behaviors may be both crucial. However, despite the abundance of communication strategies, their effectiveness has been scarcely evaluated or merely circumscribed to the scrutiny of public affairs. To study the influence of communication strategies on the spreading dynamics of an infectious disease, we implemented a susceptible-exposed-infected-removed-dead (SEIRD) epidemiological model, using an agent-based approach. Agents in our systems can obtain information modulating their behavior from two sources: (i) through the local interaction with other neighboring agents and, (ii) from a central entity delivering information with a certain periodicity. In doing so, we highlight how global information delivered from a central entity can reduce the impact of an infectious disease and how informing even a small fraction of the population has a remarkable impact, when compared to not informing the population at all. Moreover, having a scheme of delivering daily messages makes a stark difference on the reduction of cases, compared to the other evaluated strategies, denoting that daily delivery of information produces the largest decrease in the number of cases. Furthermore, when the information spreading relies only on local interactions between agents, and no central entity takes actions along the dynamics, then the epidemic spreading is virtually independent of the initial amount of informed agents. On top of that, we found that local communication plays an important role in an intermediate regime where information coming from a central entity is scarce. As a whole, our results highlight the importance of proper communication strategies, both accurate and daily, to tackle epidemic outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Bernardin
- Computational Biology Lab (DLab), Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Alejandro J. Martínez
- Computational Biology Lab (DLab), Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail: (AJM); (TPA)
| | - Tomas Perez-Acle
- Computational Biology Lab (DLab), Fundación Ciencia & Vida, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
- * E-mail: (AJM); (TPA)
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15
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Pomara C, Sessa F, Galante D, Pace L, Fasanella A, Di Nunno N, Esposito M, Salerno M. Do We Really Need Hazard Prevention at the Expense of Safeguarding Death Dignity in COVID-19? Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:1913. [PMID: 34679611 PMCID: PMC8534407 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11101913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, little is known regarding the transmission risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection for subjects involved in handling, transporting, and examining deceased persons with known or suspected COVID-19 positivity at the time of death. This experimental study aims to define if and/or how long SARS-CoV-2 persists with replication capacity in the tissues of individuals who died with/from COVID-19, thereby generating infectious hazards. Sixteen patients who died with/from COVID-19 who underwent autopsy between April 2020 and April 2021 were included in this study. Based on PMI, all samples were subdivided into two groups: 'short PMI' group (eight subjects who were autopsied between 12 to 72 h after death); 'long PMI' (eight subjects who were autopsied between 24 to 78 days after death). All patients tested positive for RT-PCR at nasopharyngeal swab both before death and on samples collected during post-mortem investigation. Moreover, a lung specimen was collected and frozen at -80 °C in order to perform viral culture. The result was defined based on the cytopathic effect (subjective reading) combined with the positivity of the RT-PCR test (objective reading) in the supernatant. Only in one sample (PMI 12 h), virus vitality was demonstrated. This study, supported by a literature review, suggests that the risk of cadaveric infection in cases of a person who died from/with COVID-19 is extremely low in the first hours after death, becoming null after 12 h after death, confirming the World Health Organization (WHO) assumed in March 2020 and suggesting that the corpse of a subject who died from/with COVID-19 should be generally considered not infectious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristoforo Pomara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (M.S.)
| | - Francesco Sessa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Domenico Galante
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy; (D.G.); (L.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Lorenzo Pace
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy; (D.G.); (L.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Antonio Fasanella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e della Basilicata, 71121 Foggia, Italy; (D.G.); (L.P.); (A.F.)
| | - Nunzio Di Nunno
- Department of History, Society and Studies on Humanity, University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy;
| | - Massimiliano Esposito
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (M.S.)
| | - Monica Salerno
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy; (M.E.); (M.S.)
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16
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Plenzig S, Holz F, Bojkova D, Kettner M, Cinatl J, Verhoff MA, Birngruber CG, Ciesek S, Rabenau HF. Detection and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in exhumated corpses. Int J Legal Med 2021; 135:2531-2536. [PMID: 34302215 PMCID: PMC8302458 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02670-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Postmortem detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after the exhumation of a corpse can become important, e.g. in the case of subsequent medical malpractice allegations. To date, data on possible detection periods [e.g. by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)] or on the potential infectivity of the virus after an exhumation are rare. In the present study, these parameters were examined in two cases with a time span of approximately 4 months between day of death and exhumation. Using SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR on swabs of both lungs and the oropharynx detection was possible with cycle threshold (Ct) values of about 30 despite signs of beginning decay. RT-PCR testing of perioral and perinasal swabs and swabs collected from the inside of the body bag, taken to estimate the risk of infection of those involved in the exhumation, was negative. Cell culture-based infectivity testing was negative for both, lung and oropharyngeal swabs. In one case, RT-PCR testing at the day of death of an oropharyngeal swab showed almost identical Ct values as postmortem testing of an oropharyngeal swab, impressively demonstrating the stability of viral RNA in the intact corpse. However, favorable climatic conditions in the grave have to be taken into account, as it was wintertime with constant low temperatures. Nevertheless, it was possible to demonstrate successful postmortem detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection following exhumation even after months in an earth grave.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Plenzig
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - F Holz
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - D Bojkova
- Institute of Medical Virology, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 40, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - M Kettner
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - J Cinatl
- Institute of Medical Virology, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 40, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - M A Verhoff
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - C G Birngruber
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - S Ciesek
- Institute of Medical Virology, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 40, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Centre for Infection Research, External Partner Site, 60323, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Branch Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - H F Rabenau
- Institute of Medical Virology, Goethe University, University Hospital Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 40, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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17
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Schegolev AI, Tumanova UN. Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in deceased patients and safe handling of infected bodies. BULLETIN OF RUSSIAN STATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY 2021. [DOI: 10.24075/brsmu.2021.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This article analyzes the literature on SARS-CoV-2 persistence in the corpses of patients infected with COVID-19, possible routes of viral transmission from the bodies and biosafety measures to prevent the spread of the infection. SARS-CoV-2 persists for quite long in the tissues and bodily fluids of decedents with COVID-19 and on various surfaces. The longest viability of the virus is on stainless steel and plastic surfaces that come in contact with the infected body. Autopsies on decedents with COVID-19 must be performed at specially conditioned facilities. Medical and forensic pathologists and other mortuary workers must adhere to stringent biosafety requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- AI Schegolev
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - UN Tumanova
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after Academician V. I. Kulakov, Moscow, Russia
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18
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Abstract
Since the beginning of March 2020, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has been the cause of millions of deaths worldwide. The need to better define the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19) as well as to provide the correct statistical records concerning deaths related to this virus, inevitably involves the role of forensic pathology and routine autopsy practice. Currently, some data on macroscopic and microscopic features in autopsies performed in suspected Covid-19 cases are reported in the literature. The persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in cadavers has not yet been elucidated and only a few reports have emphasized the importance of evaluating the Virus RNA in post-mortem tissues. In this preliminary study, we observed that SARS-CoV-2 survives in multiple cadaver tissues many days after death despite some extreme conditions of post-mortem body preservation. The results of this on-going analysis could help improve the safety of working practices for pathologists as well as understanding the possible interaction between microbiological agents and the cadaver tissue's supravital reactions.
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19
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Go MC. Fire and fear: Rapid cremations in the Philippines amidst COVID-19. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2020; 3:100132. [PMID: 33392492 PMCID: PMC7770472 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.100132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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