The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in autolysed samples from an exhumed decomposed body: Implications to virus survival, genome stability and spatial distribution in tissues

  1. Mahadeshwara Prasad
  2. Somanna Ajjamada Nachappa
  3. Niveditha Anand
  4. Deepika Udayawara Rudresh
  5. Yashika Singh
  6. Surabhi P. Gangani
  7. Forum K. Bhansali
  8. Basista Rabina Sharma
  9. Deep Nithun Senathipathi
  10. Shashidhar H. Byrappa
  11. Prakash M. Halami
  12. Ravindra P. Veeranna
  13. CSIR
  14. CFTRI

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Abstract

Here we report for the first time the SARS-CoV-2 detection in autolysed samples from an exhumed decomposed body post-thirty six days after death. Both naso-oropharyngeal swabs and visceral samples from the lung, intestine, liver, and kidney were collected from the body exhumed post-fifteen days after burial, stored in viral transport medium and in saturated salt solution respectively. Naso-oropharyngeal swabs showed the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 genome as identified by the amplification of viral E, N, RdRP, or ORF1ab genes by RT-PCR. Subsequent examination of tissues reveal the detection of the virus genome in the intestine and liver, while no detection in the kidney and lung. These results signify the genome stability and implicate the virus survival in decomposed swab samples and in tissues and thereafter in storage solution. Further results also indicate spatial distribution of the virus in tissues during the early stage of infection in the subject with no respiratory distress. Considering the presence of cool, humid, and moist location of the exhumation, the presence of virus genome might also indicate that SARS-CoV-2 can persist for more than seven days on the surface of dead bodies similar to the Ebola virus, confirming that transmission from deceased subjects is possible for an extended period after death. These results further reaffirm the robustness of the RT-PCR aiding in the detection of viruses or their genome in decomposed samples when other methods of detection could not be useful.

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  1. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2021.02.16.21251805: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board Statementnot detected.
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    No key resources detected.

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    In this context, RT-PCR assay was useful for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in these decomposed samples while other methods including histopathology, and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), blood examination etc., have limitations. However, RT-PCR, being a very sensitive and genome-based technique can show positive with the mere presence of traces of fragmented genome, which is observed in samples of asymptomatic and recovered subjects[26]. Additionally, findings from this assay might not reveal if the virus was viable or dead in the decomposed tissue but demonstrate the stability of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in the decomposed tissue. Though there is no data yet as it relates to the detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in dead and decomposed tissues from the exhumed body, based on information from other viruses, typically, if an infectious virus is detected for days to weeks after the death, the genome of the virus can be detected for months to years. The ability of the SARS-CoV-2 to survive in different environmental conditions like soil, varying humidity and temperature is not adequately documented. Further, there are no specific studies relating to the stability of SARS-CoV-2 in decomposed tissues. A few studies show that in aerosolized form, the virus can survive at relative humidity (RH) of 40-60% at a temperature of 19-22 °C for 90 mins, which is twice as longer as Influenza virus[27],[28]. The virus inoculated on various surfaces survived up to 28 days at 20 °C at 50% RH...

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  2. Version published to 10.1101/2021.02.16.21251805v1 on medRxiv