Characterization of viral shedding of Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2

ABSTRACT

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging pandemic of highly contagious caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus -2 (SARS-CoV-2). Understanding the infectivity of various clinical samples and its transmission routes have been the main focus of current researches since the causative pathogens was identified. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the viral shedding from different clinical samples and reveal that infectious virus may be mainly discharged through respiratory and digestive systems. Also, SARS-CoV-2 showed a potential tropism for eyes, kidney, testis, placenta and other extrapulmonary tissues and high viral loads correlated with severe conditions. A better understanding of viral shedding may help the studies on pathogenesis and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and provide suggestions for the disease control.