Open AccessA case of transient existence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the respiratory tract with the absence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response
Author(s) -
Yi-Chun Lin,
ChienYu Cheng,
ChengPin Chen,
ShuHsing Cheng,
SuiYuan Chang,
PoRen Hsueh
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.278
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1878-3511
pISSN - 1201-9712
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.070
Subject(s) - respiratory system , respiratory tract , medicine , covid-19 , outbreak , virology , antibody , coronavirus , virus , severe acute respiratory syndrome , severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus , immunology , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
We report the case of a patient who had travelled to Japan and who presented mild respiratory symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak period. There was transient existence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in his oropharynx. The RNA was absent in the six respiratory specimens that were subsequently tested. An anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response was absent in the acute and convalescent sera. The reported case indicates that transient colonization of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract is possible without inciting any antibody response against the virus.
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