Dataset Information

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection within the same clade in Ecuador: A case study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To date, reported SARS-CoV-2 reinfection cases are mainly from strains belonging to different clades. As the pandemic advances, a few lineages have become dominant in certain areas leading to reinfections by similar strains. Here, we report a reinfection case within the same clade of the initial infection in a symptomatic 28-year-old-male in Quito-Ecuador.

Methods

Infection was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and immune response evaluated by antibody testing. Whole-genome sequencing was performed and phylogenetic analysis conducted to determine relatedness.

Results

Both the infection and the reinfection strains were assigned as Nextstrain 20B, Pangolin lineage B.1.1 and GISAID clade O. Our analysis indicated 4-6 fold more nucleotide changes than are expected for reactivation or persistence compared with the natural rate of SARS-CoV-2 mutation (∼2-3 nucleotide changes per month), thus supporting reinfection. Furthermore, approximately 3 months after the second infection, COVID-19 antibodies were not detectable in the patient, suggesting potential vulnerability to a third infection.

Conclusions

Our results showed evidence of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection within the same clade in Ecuador, indicating that previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 does not guarantee immunity in all cases.

SUBMITTER: Sevillano G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8078048 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundThe degree of protective immunity conferred by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently unknown. As such, the possibility of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 is not well understood. We describe an investigation of two instances of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the same individual.MethodsA 25-year-old man who was a resident of Washoe County in the US state of Nevada presented to health authorities on two occasions with symptoms of viral infection, once at a community testing event in April, 2020, and a second time to primary care then hospital at the end of May and beginning of June, 2020. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from the patient at each presentation and twice during follow-up. Nucleic acid amplification testing was done to confirm SARS-CoV-2 infection. We did next-generation sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 extracted from nasopharyngeal swabs. Sequence data were assessed by two different bioinformatic methodologies. A short tandem repeat marker was used for fragment analysis to confirm that samples from both infections came from the same individual.FindingsThe patient had two positive tests for SARS-CoV-2, the first on April 18, 2020, and the second on June 5, 2020, separated by two negative tests done during follow-up in May, 2020. Genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 showed genetically significant differences between each variant associated with each instance of infection. The second infection was symptomatically more severe than the first.InterpretationGenetic discordance of the two SARS-CoV-2 specimens was greater than could be accounted for by short-term in vivo evolution. These findings suggest that the patient was infected by SARS-CoV-2 on two separate occasions by a genetically distinct virus. Thus, previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 might not guarantee total immunity in all cases. All individuals, whether previously diagnosed with COVID-19 or not, should take identical precautions to avoid infection with SARS-CoV-2. The implications of reinfections could be relevant for vaccine development and application.FundingNevada IDEA Network of Biomedical Research, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (National Institutes of Health).