The time sequences of oral and fecal viral shedding of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients

Abstract

Recent studies found that SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in the fecal samples, and live virus could be successfully isolated from stool and used for successful infection in cell cultures, indicating a possible fecal-oral transmission1-3. Although important for the disease management, information on the time sequences of oral and fecal viral shedding of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients needs more investigation1,4. In this study, we tested in 401 COVID-19 patients for viral RNAs in both respiratory and rectal specimens, and tracked for more than 7 weeks to present a clear elucidation of the oral and fecal viral shedding profile, such as the duration, viral load, and relationship to patient symptoms.