SARS-CoV-2 RNA shedding in recovered COVID-19 cases and the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in recovered COVID-19 cases and close contacts, Thailand, April-June 2020

PLoS One. 2020 Oct 29;15(10):e0236905. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236905. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although Thailand has been fairly effective at controlling the spread of COVID-19, continued disease surveillance and information on antibody response in recovered patients and their close contacts remain necessary in the absence of approved vaccines and antivirals. Here, we examined 217 recovered COVID-19 patients to assess their viral RNA shedding and residual antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. We also evaluated antibodies in blood samples from 308 close contacts of recovered COVID-19 patients. We found that viral RNA remained detectable in 6.6% of recovered COVID-19 cases and up to 105 days. IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were detected in 13.8%, 88.5%, and 83.4% of the recovered cases 4-12 weeks after disease onset, respectively. Higher levels of antibodies detected were associated with severe illness patients experienced while hospitalized. Fifteen of the 308 contacts (4.9%) of COVID-19 cases tested positive for IgG antibodies, suggesting probable exposure. Viral clearance and the pattern of antibody responses in infected individuals are both crucial for effectively combating SARS-CoV-2. Our study provides additional information on the natural history of this newly emerging disease related to both natural host defenses and antibody duration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / isolation & purification*
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Family Characteristics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Survivors*
  • Thailand
  • Virus Shedding*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • RNA, Viral

Grants and funding

This work was supported by 1. The National Research Council of Thailand; Yong Poovorawan 2. The Research Chair Grant from the National Science and Technology Development Agency (P-15-50004); Yong Poovorawan 3. The Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Chulalongkorn University (GCE 59-009-30-005); Yong Poovorawan 4. King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital; Yong Poovorawan 5. Rachadapisek Sompote Fund for Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chulalongkorn University; Jira Chansaenroj 6. Rachadapisek Sompote Fund for Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chulalongkorn University; Jiratchaya Puenpa.