Open AccessCOVID-19 subclinical infection and immunity: A review
Author(s) -
NathanYakubu Shehu,
JoyceWeade Bartekwa,
EsalaEzekiel Abene,
PamDachung Luka,
ChristopherSabo Yilgwan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nigerian journal of medicine/the nigerian journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2667-0526
pISSN - 1115-2613
DOI - 10.4103/njm.njm_85_21
Subject(s) - subclinical infection , pandemic , coronavirus , immunology , herd immunity , immunity , disease , immune system , transmission (telecommunications) , covid-19 , virology , medicine , viral shedding , biology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , vaccination , antibody , electrical engineering , engineering
The aetiologic agent of COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Like other coronaviruses, it generally induces enteric and respiratory diseases in animals and humans. COVID-19 may be subclinical, and symptomatic, ranging from mild-to-severe disease. The spectrum of presentation is the result of several factors ranging from the inoculum size, inherent host susceptibility, possible cross-reacting circulating antibodies. Subclinical viral infections are associated with widespread community transmission and in some cases like Polio, herd immunity. An understanding of the biology and immune behavior in subclinical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might be useful in the quest for vaccine development as well as the current control efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic. We carried out a narrative review of the available literature on the biology, etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 viral infection, focusing on our current understanding of the disease mechanisms and its clinical manifestation, and the host immune response to the infection. We also highlighted some of the research gaps regarding subclinical infection in COVID-19 and its potential application for vaccine development and other preventive efforts toward containing the current COVID-19 pandemic.