The persistence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in different postmortem COVID-19 specimens remain unclear despite numerous published studies. This information is essential to improve corpses management related to clinical biosafety and viral transmission in medical staff and the public community. We aim to understand SARS-CoV-2 persistence and infectivity in COVID-19 corpses. We conducted a systematic review according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) protocols. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Science Direct Scopus, and Google Scholar databases using specific keywords. We critically reviewed the collected studies and selected the articles that met the criteria. We included 33 scientific papers that involved 491 COVID-19 corpses. The persistence rate and maximum postmortem interval (PMI) range of the SARS-CoV-2 findings were reported in the lungs (138/155, 89.0%; 4 months), followed by the vitreous humor (7/37, 18.9%; 3 months), nasopharynx/oropharynx (156/248, 62.9%; 41 days), abdominal organs (67/110, 60.9%; 17 days), skin (14/24, 58.3%; 17 days), brain (14/31, 45.2%; 17 days), bone marrow (2/2, 100%; 12 days), heart (31/69, 44.9%; 6 days), muscle tissues (9/83, 10.8%; 6 days), trachea (9/20, 45.0%; 5 days), and perioral tissues (21/24, 87.5%; 3.5 days). SARS-CoV-2 infectivity rates in viral culture studies were detected in the lungs (9/15, 60%), trachea (2/4, 50%), oropharynx (1/4, 25%), and perioral (1/4, 25%) at a maximum PMI range of 17 days. The SARS-CoV-2 persists in the human body months after death and should be infectious for weeks. This data should be helpful for postmortem COVID-19 management and viral transmission preventive strategy.

Background: Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is the most prevalent etiology of cervical cancer in Indonesian women. The L2 minor capsid protein has considerable potential as a broad-protective antigen target of the cervical cancer vaccine strategies, yet the data on L2 gene variation is still minimal. In this research, we determined the variations of the HPV16 L2 gene sequences in Indonesian cervical cancer specimens. Methods: We cross-sectionally observed 23 DNA isolates of HPV16 positive cervical cancer specimens stored in the laboratory of the

Background: Human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) is the most common etiological cause of cervical cancer in Indonesian women. HPV16 L2 genetic variation analysis is important for vaccine strategies of cervical cancer, yet the data in Indonesia is still limited. In this research, we determined the variation of the HPV16 L2 gene sequences in Indonesian cervical cancer specimens. Method: We cross-sectionally observed a total of 23 DNA isolates of HPV16 positive specimens stored in the laboratory of the Center for Diagnostic and Research on Infectious Diseases (PDRPI Lab) Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia. The HPV16 L2 genes were amplified, sequenced, and followed by DNA alignment, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) analysis, and phylogenetic tree reconstruction. Results: As many as 35 SNPs were found, consist of 18 synonymous SNPs (sSNPs) and 17 non-synonymous SNPs (nsSNPs). Amino acid variations were mostly detected at S269P (100%) and L330F (43.48%) with no variation in the immuno-protective region near L2 N-terminus. A total of 5 HPV16 phylogenetic sub-lineages were found closely related to A1 (n=5), A2 (n=12), A3 (n=2), A4 (n=3), and C (n=1). Conclusion: The variation of HPV16 L2 gene sequences was mostly located on the central region of the L2 sequences and the cross-protective region near the L2 N-terminus was particularly conserved. This study should enhance the information about HPV16 L2 gene variation in Indonesia.

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BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases are potential for SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks source, yet the feasible predictive factors are unclear. AIM: Our study aimed to determine the age and sex differences in the presence of COVID-19 clinical symptoms at the initial diagnosis. METHODS: We examined the results of individual first-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (q-RT-PCR) of 19,588 COVID-19 positive cases registered at the Center for Diagnostic and Research on Infectious Disease Laboratory (PDRPI Lab), Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Andalas, Padang, Indonesia, from April 2020 to December 2020. Asymptomatic cases were those who had no symptoms at the initial confirmation while symptomatic had. The differences of age (classified into five age groups) and sex (female or male) were evaluated in both cases to see their significance. RESULTS: A total of 12,790 (65.30%) of COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic. The COVID-19 patients had average age (mean ± SD) of 37.12 ± 17.22 years old (y.o.). Younger adults (20–39 y.o.; 42.01%; average age (mean ± SD) 29.51 ± 5.52 y.o.) were the most affected, followed by adults (40–59 y.o.; 32.09%; average age (mean ± SD) 49.29 ± 5.63 y.o.), children (≤19 years; 15.30%; average age (mean ± SD) 11.82 ± 5.70 y.o.), older adults (60–79 years; 9.90%; average age (mean ± SD) 65.76 ± 4.86 y.o.), and elderly (≥80 years; 0.71%; average age (mean ± SD) 83.31 ± 3.65 y.o.). Female cases (53.23%; average age (mean ± SD) 34.92 ± 16.57 y.o.) were more prevalent than males (46.77%; average age (mean ± SD) 41.26 ± 17.65 y.o.), with a significant mean age difference (P < 0.001). The odds of being asymptomatic were increased in the younger age group (adults OR as the reference; children OR 0.471, 95% CI 0.426–0.519; younger adults OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.639–0.734; older adults OR 1.766, 95% CI 1.594–1.957; and elderly OR 1.981, 95% CI 1.412–2.780; P < 0.001). Females were more likely than males to be asymptomatic (OR 1.105, 95% CI 1.042–1.172). Conclusions: The younger age and the female sex are associated with asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in the earliest molecular diagnosis.

Background: COVID-19 test positivity rate (TPR) is essential to estimate and control SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a population at a specific time, yet the TPR trends at a provincial level in Indonesia are unclear. This study aimed to determine the COVID-19 TPR dynamics of the Indonesian West Sumatra province in the first year of documented cases.Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using secondary data of the COVID-19 quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (q-RT-PCR) test in West Sumatra Province from April 2020 to March 2021. To examine trends, we estimated TPR(s) on an annual, quarterly, and monthly basis in the province, its regions (cities/ regencies), and districts.Results: From a total of 410,424 individuals taking the COVID-19 q-RT-PCR examination during one year, the provincial TPR was 8.11%. The third quarter (October 2020 – December 2020, 12.18%) and October 2020 (15.62%) had the highest TPR quarterly and monthly, respectively. The TPR of cities was almost certainly twice that of regencies. Annual TPR varied significantly (p<0.001) across regions, districts, and periods.Conclusion: The COVID-19 TPR trends in West Sumatra at the first year of the pandemic were generally higher than the global recommendation. Further study on population density, public mobility, and implementation of health protocol in the province should be valuable to understand TPR dynamics.

Background: The test positivity rate (TPR) of COVID-19 is an epidemiological indicator used to estimate SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a population at a certain time. However, large data analysis on the TPR in Indonesia is still limited. In this study, we determined COVID-19 TPR dynamics of Indonesian West Sumatra Province in the first year of cases were recorded.Method: We conducted an observational study with a cross-sectional approach from one-year secondary data of COVID-19 test using qualitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (q-RT-PCR) in West Sumatra collected from April 2020 until March 2021. The TPR(s) in the province, its regions (cities/ regencies), and districts were determined annually, quarterly, and monthly to analyze their trends.Results: From a total of 410,424 individuals taking COVID-19 q-RT-PCR examination during one-year observation, the provincial TPR was 8.11%. The highest TPR quarterly and monthly was detected in the third quarter (October 2020 – December 2020, 12.18%) and October 2020 (15.62%) respectively. The TPR of cities was likely two times higher than regencies. There were significant differences in annual TPR between regions, districts, and any period of times detected in this study.Conclusion: We have shown the COVID-19 q-RT-PCR TPR dynamics to describe SARS-CoV-2 transmission control among different areas in West Sumatra. This study should be beneficial to ensure an effective COVID-19 preventive strategy in the future.

Latar Belakang: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) yang disebabkan Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) telah menjadi perhatian dunia sejak awal ditemukan hingga saat ini. Keparahan kondisi pasien COVID-19 dengan komorbid dipengaruhi dengan berbagai faktor yang dapat meningkatkan morbiditas dan mortalitas pasien COVID-19. Objektif: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui profil pasien COVID-19 dengan komorbid yang dirawat di RSUP Dr. M. Djamil Padang. Metode: Jenis penelitian ini merupakan observasional deskriptif dengan pendekatan cross-sectional. Data penelitian diambil dari data rekam medis dengan teknik pengambilan total sampling pada pasien yang dirawat pada 1 Oktober sampai 31 Desember 2020. Hasil: Penelitian ini mendapatkan dari total 144 pasien, 34% pasien COVID-19 dengan komorbid merupakan kelompok usia 50-59 tahun, 50,7% berjenis kelamin laki-laki, 59,7% memiliki riwayat pendidikan tingkat menengah dan 53,5% berstatus IMT obesitas. Komorbid terbanyak yang ditemukan adalah 29,2% hipertensi dengan 73,6% pasien memiliki lebih dari satu komorbid, sebanyak 77,1% merupakan COVID-19 derajat sedang dengan 71,5% memiliki lama rawatan 14 hari atau kurang, serta 62,5% memiliki luaran COVID-19 sembuh. Kesimpulan: Penelitian ini menemukan sebagian besar pasien COVID-19 dengan komorbid yang dirawat merupakan kelompok usia tua, dengan komorbid terbanyak hipertensi, sebagian besar memiliki lebih dari satu komorbid, mengalami derajat sakit sedang dengan lama rawatan 14 hari atau kurang, dan luaran sembuh.