Occult SARS-CoV-2 infection; a possible hypothesis for viral relapse

Mostafa H Elberry; Hussien Ahmed

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109980

Occult SARS-CoV-2 infection; a possible hypothesis for viral relapse

Med Hypotheses. 2020 Nov:144:109980. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109980. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Authors

Mostafa H Elberry¹, Hussien Ahmed²

Affiliations

¹ Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt.
² Clinical Research Management Program, Edson College, Arizona State University, USA; Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Sharkia, Egypt. Electronic address: hoseen011232@medicine.zu.edu.eg.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as a global public health emergency, which is characterized by high infection rate and fatal course. Recent data reported that the test for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA might become positive again after one or two consecutively negative tests. Many researchers are currently evaluating the clinical characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 reactivation. In this letter, we proposed a possible mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 reactivation or relapse after negative nasopharyngeal swabs PCR.

Publication types

Letter

MeSH terms

COVID-19 / blood
COVID-19 / diagnosis
COVID-19 / epidemiology
COVID-19 / virology*
COVID-19 Testing*
DNA, Complementary / analysis
False Negative Reactions
Humans
Models, Biological*
Monocytes / virology*
Nasopharynx / virology*
Oropharynx / virology*
Pandemics*
Quarantine
RNA, Viral / blood*
RNA, Viral / genetics
RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
Recurrence
Respiratory System / virology
Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
SARS-CoV-2 / genetics
SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
Virus Activation*

Substances

DNA, Complementary
RNA, Viral