SARS-CoV-2 identification in lungs, heart and kidney specimens by transmission and scanning electron microscopy

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2020 May;24(9):5186-5188. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_202005_21217.

Abstract

From two COVID-19-related deaths, samples of lung, heart and kidney were collected and processed for Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy (TEM and SEM) with the aim of identifying the virus. Virions of SARS-CoV-2 were found in all tissues by TEM and SEM, corroborating the hypothesis that the virus enters the cells of different organs. This is the first report identifying SARS-CoV-2 in different human tissues by TEM and SEM.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
  • Betacoronavirus / ultrastructure*
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / pathology
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology*
  • Female
  • Heart / virology*
  • Humans
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney / virology*
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung / virology*
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / pathology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology*
  • SARS-CoV-2