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High titers of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in corpses of patients with COVID-19.
Saitoh, Hisako; Sakai-Tagawa, Yuko; Nagasawa, Sayaka; Torimitsu, Suguru; Kubota, Kazumi; Hirata, Yuichiro; Iwatsuki-Horimoto, Kiyoko; Motomura, Ayumi; Ishii, Namiko; Okaba, Keisuke; Horioka, Kie; Abe, Hiroyuki; Ikemura, Masako; Rokutan, Hirofumi; Hinata, Munetoshi; Iwasaki, Akiko; Yasunaga, Yoichi; Nakajima, Makoto; Yamaguchi, Rutsuko; Tsuneya, Shigeki; Kira, Kei; Kobayashi, Susumu; Inokuchi, Go; Chiba, Fumiko; Hoshioka, Yumi; Mori, Aika; Yamamoto, Isao; Nakagawa, Kimiko; Katano, Harutaka; Iida, Shun; Suzuki, Tadaki; Akitomi, Shinji; Hasegawa, Iwao; Ushiku, Tetsuo; Yajima, Daisuke; Iwase, Hirotaro; Makino, Yohsuke; Kawaoka, Yoshihiro.
  • Saitoh H; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. Electronic address: hms1466@faculty.chiba-u.jp.
  • Sakai-Tagawa Y; Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Nagasawa S; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
  • Torimitsu S; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Kubota K; Department of Healthcare Information Management, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Hirata Y; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Iwatsuki-Horimoto K; Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Motomura A; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Legal Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Ishii N; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Legal Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Okaba K; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Legal Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Horioka K; Department of Legal Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Abe H; Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Ikemura M; Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Rokutan H; Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Hinata M; Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Iwasaki A; Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Yasunaga Y; Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Nakajima M; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Yamaguchi R; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Tsuneya S; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Kira K; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Kobayashi S; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Inokuchi G; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Chiba F; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Hoshioka Y; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
  • Mori A; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
  • Yamamoto I; Department of Forensic Medicine, Kanagawa Dental University, Yokosuka, Japan; Public Interest Incorporated Association Nihon Kousei-Kyoukai, Yokosuka, Japan.
  • Nakagawa K; Department of Forensic Medicine, Kanagawa Dental University, Yokosuka, Japan; Public Interest Incorporated Association Nihon Kousei-Kyoukai, Yokosuka, Japan.
  • Katano H; Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Iida S; Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Suzuki T; Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Akitomi S; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Japan Medical Association Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Hasegawa I; Department of Forensic Medicine, Kanagawa Dental University, Yokosuka, Japan; Public Interest Incorporated Association Nihon Kousei-Kyoukai, Yokosuka, Japan.
  • Ushiku T; Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Yajima D; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Legal Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Iwase H; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Makino Y; Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Kawaoka Y; Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Global Viral Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Influenza Research Institute, Department of Pathobiological Sciences,
Int J Infect Dis ; 129: 103-109, 2023 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2302951
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

The prolonged presence of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in deceased patients with COVID-19 has been reported. However, infectious virus titers have not been determined. Such information is important for public health, death investigation, and handling corpses. The aim of this study was to assess the level of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in the corpses of patients with COVID-19.

METHODS:

We collected 11 nasopharyngeal swabs and 19 lung tissue specimens from 11 autopsy cases with COVID-19 in 2021. We then investigated the viral genomic copy number by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and infectious titers by cell culture and virus isolation.

RESULTS:

Infectious virus was present in six of 11 (55%) cases, four of 11 (36%) nasopharyngeal swabs, and nine of 19 (47%) lung specimens. The virus titers ranged from 6.00E + 01 plaque-forming units/ml to 2.09E + 06 plaque-forming units/g. In all cases in which an infectious virus was found, the time from death to discovery was within 1 day and the longest postmortem interval was 13 days.

CONCLUSION:

The corpses of patients with COVID-19 may have high titers of infectious virus after a long postmortem interval (up to 13 days). Therefore, appropriate infection control measures must be taken when handling corpses.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Communicable Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Int J Infect Dis Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2023 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Communicable Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Observational study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Int J Infect Dis Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2023 Document Type: Article