Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 Antigens in the Nasal Mucosa of Eight Patients with Inflammatory Rhinopathy for over 80 Days following Mild COVID-19 Diagnosis
Juliana Costa dos Santos,
Marjory Ximenes Rabelo,
Luana Mattana Sebben,
Matheus Vinicius de Souza Carneiro,
João Bosco Lopes Botelho,
José Cardoso Neto,
Anderson Nogueira Barbosa,
Diego Monteiro de Carvalho,
Gemilson Soares Pontes
Affiliations
Juliana Costa dos Santos
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Avenida General Rodrigo Octávio 6200, Coroado, Manaus 69080-900, AM, Brazil
Marjory Ximenes Rabelo
Centro Multiusuário para Análise de Fenômenos Biomédicos, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Avenida Carvalho Leal 1777, Cachoeirinha, Manaus 69065-000, AM, Brazil
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Rua Afonso Pena 1053, Manaus 69020-160, AM, Brazil
João Bosco Lopes Botelho
Escola Superior Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Avenida Carvalho Leal 1777, Cachoeirinha, Manaus 69065-000, AM, Brazil
José Cardoso Neto
Departamento de Estatística, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Avenida Roberto Vieira, Coroado, Manaus 69080-000, AM, Brazil
Anderson Nogueira Barbosa
Laboratório de Virologia e Imunologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Avenida André Araújo 2936, Manaus 69060-001, AM, Brazil
Diego Monteiro de Carvalho
Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Rua Afonso Pena 1053, Manaus 69020-160, AM, Brazil
Gemilson Soares Pontes
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Avenida General Rodrigo Octávio 6200, Coroado, Manaus 69080-900, AM, Brazil
The nasal mucosa is the main gateway for entry, replication and elimination of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the pathogen that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (COVID-19). The presence of the virus in the epithelium causes damage to the nasal mucosa and compromises mucociliary clearance. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral antigens in the nasal mucociliary mucosa of patients with a history of mild COVID-19 and persistent inflammatory rhinopathy. We evaluated eight adults without previous nasal diseases and with a history of COVID-19 and persistent olfactory dysfunction for more than 80 days after diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Samples of the nasal mucosa were collected via brushing of the middle nasal concha. The detection of viral antigens was performed using immunofluorescence through confocal microscopy. Viral antigens were detected in the nasal mucosa of all patients. Persistent anosmia was observed in four patients. Our findings suggest that persistent SARS-CoV-2 antigens in the nasal mucosa of mild COVID-19 patients may lead to inflammatory rhinopathy and prolonged or relapsing anosmia. This study sheds light on the potential mechanisms underlying persistent symptoms of COVID-19 and highlights the importance of monitoring patients with persistent anosmia and nasal-related symptoms.
