Identification of a Novel Pathogen Using Family-Wide PCR: Initial Confirmation of COVID-19 in Thailand

Abstract

In resource-limited countries, early detection of novel pathogens is often challenging, due to financial and technical constraints. This study reports the efficacy of family-wide polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in screening, detecting, and identifying initial cases of the novel SARS-CoV-2 in Thailand. Respiratory secretions were collected from suspected individuals traveling from Wuhan, China to Thailand at the beginning of January 2020. Family-wide PCR assays yielded positive results for coronavirus in one traveler within 12 h on January 8, 2020. Nucleotide sequences (290 bp) showed 100% similarity to SARS-CoV-2. The whole genome sequence was further characterized by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for confirmation. Combining family-wide PCR, as a rapid screening tool, with NGS, for full genome characterization, could facilitate early detection and confirmation of a novel pathogen and enable early containment of a disease outbreak.

Dating first cases of COVID-19

“…Expanding this comparison to four other studies that identified earlier cases, we inferred January 7, 2020 (95% CI December 22, 2019) as the most likely first case in Thailand. This is only 1 day after a case identified in a traveller to Thailand from Wuhan on January 8, 2020 [ 15 , 16 ]. However, the most likely first case in France was inferred as January 19, 2020 (95% CI January 4, 2020), while a retrospective review of medical records identified one patient as having COVID-19 from December 27 [ 6 ].…”

Leptospirosis-associated meningitis in a patient with Sjögren's Syndrome: a case report

“…Secondly, HTS demonstrates superior sensitivity and speci city, enabling the identi cation of low-concentration pathogen nucleic acids and even offering effective detection for rare pathogens [11]. Additionally, this technology can uncover novel, previously unidenti ed pathogens [12]. By comparing and analyzing unknown sequences, it provides fresh insights for disease diagnosis and etiological research.…”