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- Title
Fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in infants born to SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers: a pilot study.
- Authors
Blaufus, Dylan K.P.; Kalanetra, Karen M.; Pesavento, Rosa; Garlapati, Pranav; Baikie, Brittany C.; Kuhn-Riordon, Kara M.; Underwood, Mark A.; Taft, Diana H.
- Abstract
Background: Fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 occurs during infection, particularly in pediatric populations. The gut microbiota are associated with resistance to enteric pathogens. COVID-19 is associated with alterations to the gut microbiome. We hypothesized that the gut microbiome of infants born to SARS-CoV-2+ mothers differs between infants with and without fecal shedding of the virus. Methods: We enrolled 10 infants born to SARS-CoV-2+ mothers. We used qPCR on fecal RNA to test for SARS-CoV-2 and 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V4 region to assess the gut microbiome. Infant SARS-CoV-2 status from nasal swabs was abstracted from medical records. Results: Of the 10 included infants, nine were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by nasal swab with 1 testing positive. Four infants, including the nasal swab positive infant, had at least one sample with detectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 fecal shedding. Detection of both SARS-CoV-2 genes in feces was associated with increased gut alpha diversity compared to no detection by a linear mixed effects model (p < 0.001). Detection of both SARS-CoV-2 genes was associated with increased levels Erysipelotrichaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Ruminococceae by MaAsLin2. Conclusion: Fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 occurs in infants who test negative on nasal swabs and is associated with differences in the gut microbiome.
- Subjects
CHILD patients; VIRAL shedding; SARS-CoV-2; INFANTS; LACTOBACILLACEAE; GUT microbiome
- Publication
PeerJ, 2024, p1
- ISSN
2167-8359
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.7717/peerj.17956