Genomic evidence of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection cases in southern Brazil

Arch Virol. 2023 Jan 3;168(1):19. doi: 10.1007/s00705-022-05648-8.

Abstract

Cases of reinfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported worldwide. We investigated reinfection cases in a set of more than 30,000 samples, and the SARS-CoV-2 genomes from selected samples from four patients with at least two positive diagnoses with an interval ≥ 45 days between tests were sequenced and analyzed. Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis confirmed three reinfection cases and suggested that the fourth one was caused by a virus of the same lineage. Viral sequencing is crucial for understanding the natural course of reinfections and for planning public health strategies for management of COVID-19.

MeSH terms

  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • COVID-19*
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Phylogeny
  • Reinfection
  • SARS-CoV-2* / genetics