Microscopic Observations of SARS-CoV-2 Like Particles in Different Oral Samples

Overview

Journal Eur J Oral Sci

Specialty Dentistry

Date 2022 Nov 20

PMID 36404273

Authors

Djamal Brahim Belhaouari

Jean-Pierre Baudoin

Jean-Christophe Lagier

Virginie Monnet-Corti

Bernard La Scola

Angeline Antezack

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The emerging coronavirus pneumonia epidemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 infection has spread rapidly around the world. The main routes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 are currently recognised as aerosol/droplet inhalation. However, the involvement of the oral cavity in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is poorly known. The current data indicates the presence of viral RNA in oral samples, suggesting the implication of saliva in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, however, no direct observation of SARS-CoV-2 particles in different oral samples has been reported. In this study, we investigated whether particles of SARS-CoV-2 were present in oral samples collected from three symptomatic COVID-19 patients. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the correlative strategy of light microscopy and electron microscopy and immunofluorescence staining, we showed the presence of SARS-like particles in RT-qPCR SARS-CoV-2-positive saliva, dental plaque and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples. In the saliva samples, we demonstrated the presence of epithelial oral cells with morphogenetic features of SARS-CoV-2 infected cells. Inside those cells, vacuoles filled with nascent particles were observed, suggesting the potential infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 in oral tissues. Our results corroborate previous studies and confirm that the oral cavity may be a potential niche for SARS-CoV-2 infection and a potential source of transmission.

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Microscopic observations of SARS-CoV-2 like particles in different oral samples.

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