Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 Antigens in the Nasal Mucosa of Eight Patients with Inflammatory Rhinopathy for over 80 Days following Mild COVID-19 Diagnosis.

The nasal mucosa is the main gateway for entry, replication and elimination of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the pathogen that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (COVID-19). The presence of the virus in the epithelium causes damage to the nasal mucosa and compromises mucociliary clearance. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens in the nasal mucociliary mucosa of patients with a history of mild COVID-19 and persistent inflammatory rhinopathy. We evaluated eight adults without previous nasal diseases and with a history of COVID-19 and persistent olfactory dysfunction for more than 80 days after diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Samples of the nasal mucosa were collected via brushing of the middle nasal concha. The detection of viral antigens was performed using immunofluorescence through confocal microscopy. Viral antigens were detected in the nasal mucosa of all patients. Persistent anosmia was observed in four patients. Our findings suggest that persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigens in the nasal mucosa of mild COVID-19 patients may lead to inflammatory rhinopathy and prolonged or relapsing anosmia. This study sheds light on the potential mechanisms underlying persistent symptoms of COVID-19 and highlights the importance of monitoring patients with persistent anosmia and nasal-related symptoms.

Epidemiological and Liver Biomarkers Profile of Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and Its Coinfection with Cytomegalovirus in Patients with Hematological Diseases.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are viruses globally distributed that have been associated with the development and prognosis of many pathologies, including hematological diseases. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of EBV infection and the infection-correlated hepatic manifestations in patients with hematological diseases of the northern Brazilian state of Amazonas. A total of 228 patients were serologically tested for the presence of anti-EBV and anti-CMV IgG antibodies through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The coinfection with CMV, sociodemographic and laboratory records of all patients were also assessed. The overall prevalence observed among the study population for EBV infection and EBV/CMV coinfection was 85.09% (95% CI: 0.80-0.90) and 78.51% (95% CI: 0.73-0.84), respectively. The age group 31-40 years old were more susceptible to EBV/CMV coinfection (95% CI: 1.59-93.41, p = 0.011), while young people aged 1-10 years old were less affected for both EBV infection (CI 95%; 0.66-0.91, p = 0.001) and EBV/CMV coinfection (95% CI: 0.52-0.81, p < 0.0001). High serum levels of the liver biomarker ferritin were associated with EBV infection (95% CI: 1.03-1.54, p = 0.031) and EBV/CMV coinfection (95% CI: 1.02-1.70, p = 0.038). Our findings indicated that the elevated prevalence of EBV infection is not associated with the hematological diseases or transfusion rates, but with the socioeconomic status of the study population. Also, this study suggests that the EBV infection and its coinfection with CMV are related to the increase of serum ferritin levels.