New data about sexually transmitted COVID‐19

Abstract

The growing body of literature regarding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to interesting developments elucidating the nature of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission. With regards to viral shedding in genital secretions, current data point to the fact that genital secretions remain clear of the virus and represent an unlikely route of infection. A recent study conducted by Wu et al on COVID-19-infected pregnant woman attempted to assess the risk of vertical transmission by collecting and testing vaginal secretions for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in which all 13 patients had no evidence of viral shedding. 1 This seems to be confirmed by Yan et al on a larger series of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 who again could not find signs of viral presence within the female genital fluids they tested. 2 Both studies must be interpreted cautiously as they exclusively used the genital secretions of pregnant women which are generally more abundant and potentially more dilute. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor is currently accepted to be the main host cell entry receptor target for the SARS-CoV-2, and its presence on Leydig cells in male patients has raised concern over the possibility of viral orchitis and viral shedding through seminal fluid. However, current data suggest that no viral RNA is present in the seminal fluid of SARS-CoV-2-positive males. This can be explained by either the viral load, or the concentration of ACE-2 receptors being too low at the level of the testes. 3 In our own recent publication, we too comment on the poten

Chitin‐lipid interactions and the potential relationship between Demodex and SARS‐CoV ‐2

“…Surveyed females queried on recent sexual behavioral changes in relation to the COVID‐19 pandemic have reported feelings of anxiety, fear, frustration, lack of sexual interest, and decreased desire to become pregnant. This is also in line with reports of lowered demands for sexually transmitted disease outpatient services 8,10,11 . However, it is possible that close skin‐to‐skin contact especially in seborrheic areas, either within families or via sexual contact, may be another route through which SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission may occur, and that such transmission may be enhanced by the presence of D .…”

“…This is also in line with reports of lowered demands for sexually transmitted disease outpatient services. 8,10,11 However, it is possible that close skin-to-skin contact especially in seborrheic areas, either within families or via sexual contact, may be another route through which SARS-CoV-2 transmission may occur, and that such transmission may be enhanced by the presence of D. folliculorum.…”

A Working Hypothesis on Vesicular Lesions Related to COVID-19 Infection, Koebner Phenomena Type V, and a Short Review of Related Data

“… 3 Certain risk factors like contact with areas of high sebum production or concomitant infection with Demodex folliculorum may increase this risk. 4 , 5 Familial clustering of COVID-19 rashes have been described in patients sharing close-quarters. 6 At present, there is no current consensus on whether vesicular rashes could be a source of transmission, and the majority of these eruptions are not specific to any one viral agent, thus often making the etiology unclear and difficult to determine.…”

Teledermatology Practice in a Department that Was Relocated Multiple Times during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…3 The COVID pandemic, as an epidemiological security problem, gave us through teledermatology the opportunity to communicate and convey information and images in order to exchange details and deepen research both in the field of Dermatology and other medical specialties; these collaborations materialized in the form of 14 publications in the international flow, our team including national and international researchers, both dermatologists and other specialities -infectious diseases, internal medicine, cardiology, psychiatry, gastroenterology, rheumatology, surgery, radiology. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The addressed issues were related to COVID-19 and skin manifestations, sexual transmission, prevention, inflammation, interleukin IL-6, vesicular lesions and the Koebner phenomena, Demodex and SARS-CoV-2, psychiatric symptoms, psoriasis-vaccine induced flares. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] This prolific collaboration was the basis of research continuity and multidisciplinary collaboration even after the pandemic state ended, strengthening the integration teledermatology use as a clinical, imaging and research tool.…”

“…[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] The addressed issues were related to COVID-19 and skin manifestations, sexual transmission, prevention, inflammation, interleukin IL-6, vesicular lesions and the Koebner phenomena, Demodex and SARS-CoV-2, psychiatric symptoms, psoriasis-vaccine induced flares. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] This prolific collaboration was the basis of research continuity and multidisciplinary collaboration even after the pandemic state ended, strengthening the integration teledermatology use as a clinical, imaging and research tool. [18][19][20][21] The limitations of teledermatology consisted in technological ones: connectivity problems for elderly people and concerns related to data protection or privacy.…”