SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctiva and Tears and Ocular Symptoms of Patients with COVID-19
This study investigates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival secretions and tears and evaluates ocular symptoms in a group of patients with COVID-19. We included 56 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in this cross-sectional cohort study. Conjunctival secretions and tears were collected using...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Vision |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5150/5/4/51 |
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| author | Teresa Rodríguez-Ares David Lamas-Francis Mercedes Treviño Daniel Navarro María Cea María Jesús López-Valladares Laura Martínez Francisco Gude Rosario Touriño |
| author_facet | Teresa Rodríguez-Ares David Lamas-Francis Mercedes Treviño Daniel Navarro María Cea María Jesús López-Valladares Laura Martínez Francisco Gude Rosario Touriño |
| author_sort | Teresa Rodríguez-Ares |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival secretions and tears and evaluates ocular symptoms in a group of patients with COVID-19. We included 56 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in this cross-sectional cohort study. Conjunctival secretions and tears were collected using flocked swabs and Schirmer strips for SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Assessment of ocular surface manifestations included an OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) questionnaire. Patients had been admitted to hospital for an average of 2.4 days (range 0–7) and had shown general symptoms for an average of 7.1 days (range 1–20) prior to ocular testing. Four (7.1%) of 56 conjunctival swabs and four (4%) of 112 Schirmer strips were positive for SARS-CoV-2. The mean E-gene cycle threshold values (Ct values) were 31.2 (SD 5.0) in conjunctival swabs and 32.9 (SD 2.7) in left eye Schirmer strips. Overall, 17 (30%) patients presented ocular symptoms. No association was found between positive ocular samples and ocular symptoms. This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected on the conjunctiva and tears of patients with COVID-19. Contact with the ocular surface may transmit the virus and preventive measures should be taken in this direction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:53:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f84c2ac9f3040e98b502e764dec0813 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-5150 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:53:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vision |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f84c2ac9f3040e98b502e764dec08132023-11-23T10:59:43ZengMDPI AGVision2411-51502021-10-01545110.3390/vision5040051SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctiva and Tears and Ocular Symptoms of Patients with COVID-19Teresa Rodríguez-Ares0David Lamas-Francis1Mercedes Treviño2Daniel Navarro3María Cea4María Jesús López-Valladares5Laura Martínez6Francisco Gude7Rosario Touriño8Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Microbiology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Microbiology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Microbiology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, SpainFaculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, SpainThis study investigates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in conjunctival secretions and tears and evaluates ocular symptoms in a group of patients with COVID-19. We included 56 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in this cross-sectional cohort study. Conjunctival secretions and tears were collected using flocked swabs and Schirmer strips for SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Assessment of ocular surface manifestations included an OSDI (Ocular Surface Disease Index) questionnaire. Patients had been admitted to hospital for an average of 2.4 days (range 0–7) and had shown general symptoms for an average of 7.1 days (range 1–20) prior to ocular testing. Four (7.1%) of 56 conjunctival swabs and four (4%) of 112 Schirmer strips were positive for SARS-CoV-2. The mean E-gene cycle threshold values (Ct values) were 31.2 (SD 5.0) in conjunctival swabs and 32.9 (SD 2.7) in left eye Schirmer strips. Overall, 17 (30%) patients presented ocular symptoms. No association was found between positive ocular samples and ocular symptoms. This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected on the conjunctiva and tears of patients with COVID-19. Contact with the ocular surface may transmit the virus and preventive measures should be taken in this direction.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5150/5/4/51COVID-19coronavirusSARS-CoV-2tearsconjunctivaocular surface |
| spellingShingle | Teresa Rodríguez-Ares David Lamas-Francis Mercedes Treviño Daniel Navarro María Cea María Jesús López-Valladares Laura Martínez Francisco Gude Rosario Touriño SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctiva and Tears and Ocular Symptoms of Patients with COVID-19 Vision COVID-19 coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 tears conjunctiva ocular surface |
| title | SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctiva and Tears and Ocular Symptoms of Patients with COVID-19 |
| title_full | SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctiva and Tears and Ocular Symptoms of Patients with COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctiva and Tears and Ocular Symptoms of Patients with COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctiva and Tears and Ocular Symptoms of Patients with COVID-19 |
| title_short | SARS-CoV-2 in Conjunctiva and Tears and Ocular Symptoms of Patients with COVID-19 |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 in conjunctiva and tears and ocular symptoms of patients with covid 19 |
| topic | COVID-19 coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 tears conjunctiva ocular surface |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5150/5/4/51 |
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