Identification of SARS-CoV-2 and additional respiratory pathogens cases under the investigation of COVID-19 initial phase in a Brazilian reference laboratory

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance, in Brazil, initiated shortly after its description, in China. Our aim was to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and additional pathogens in samples from the initial phase of the outbreak in Brazil, from late February to late March. From 707 samples analysed, 29 (4.1%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive. Fever and cough were their most prevalent symptoms. Co-detection of rhinovirus was observed in 2 (6.9%) cases. Additional pathogens were identified in 66.1% of the SARS-CoV-2 negative cases, mainly rhinovirus and influenza A(H1N1) pdm09. Thus, we emphasise the importance of differential diagnosis in COVID-19 suspected cases.

SARS-CoV-2: Ultrastructural Characterization of Morphogenesis in an In Vitro System

“…Fusion of membrane of the smooth vesicles with the cell membrane resulting in the release of the particles was also observed, too. This mechanism of viral progeny release was detected in our previous studies with SARS-CoV-2 [24], and corroborates data presented by Qian et al [57] and Qinfen et al [9] from in vitro studies with alveolar type II cells and Vero-E6 cells infected with SARS-CoV.…”

“…Synthetic RNA sequences corresponding to E and RdRP targets [2] were used as positive controls. Putative coinfections in this sample were discarded by differential diagnosis analysis for other 17 respiratory viral pathogens and mycoplasm pneumonieae, as described previously [24]. Whole-genome sequences of isolate evaluated in this study are available in the Global initiative on sharing all influenza data (GISAID) under the accession numbers EPI_ISL_415105.…”

Two-Step In Vitro Model to Evaluate the Cellular Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2

“…Three frozen samples were collected before the COVID-19 outbreak (June, July, and November 2019). Eleven subjects tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-qPCR according to the protocol described by Matos et al, 2020 [ 24 ] or IgM/IgG antibodies (>two–three months before blood collection), and all presented signals or symptoms of COVID-19. All volunteers were monitored weekly since March 2020, by RT-qPCR on naso-oropharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 detection [ 24 ] ( Table 2 ).…”

“…After 48 h of cell cultivation, 1 × 10 6 of live PBMC were harvested and centrifuged (400× g , 5 min, 4 °C) in the presence or absence of the virus. PBMC and supernatant samples were used to extract viral RNA using RNeasy Plus Mini Kit (Qiagen) and submitted to RT-qPCR assay (Molecular Kit SARS-CoV-2 (E/RP), Bio-Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) to detect SARS-CoV-2 genome as described by Matos et al, 2020 [ 24 ].…”

Case Report: Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome Diagnostic in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Furthermore, although orthohantavirus and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection has not yet been reported, it is necessary to consider the possibility of co-infection, as already observed with other respiratory viruses such as influenza, rhinovirus/enterovirus, parainfluenza, metapneumovirus, and influenza B virus. [26][27][28] In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, our patient highlights the importance of differential diagnoses, especially in those individuals who have a travel history to endemic areas during the previous 60 days and who present with manifestations compatible with HCPS, such as respiratory failure and dry cough.…”