Shared Food, Meals and Drinks: 10 Arguments Suggesting an Oral Transmission Route of SARS-CoV-2

: Numerous observational, epidemiologic data have suggested that the risk of COVID19 is related to shared meals or drinks. The presence of ACE2 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract supports this hypothesis. Furthermore, several patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms without any respiratory disease. The SARS-CoV-2 found on food and packaging in China and the epidemic resurgence attributed to foods are also strong indications of an oral transmission route. Unprecedented biopersistence on skin, food, and beverages supports this theory. Finally, animal models reproducing the disease by oral inoculation are additional arguments in favor of an oro-digestive route of infection.

Download Full-text

Covid-19: is the oral transmission route during shared meals and drinks credible?

Virologie ◽

10.1684/vir.2021.0910 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 213-223

Author(s):

Jean-Michel Wendling ◽

Aure Saulnier ◽

Jean-Marc Sabatier

Keyword(s):

Transmission Route ◽

Oral Transmission ◽

Shared Meals

Download Full-text

Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10030493 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 493

Author(s):

Casper Skjærbæk ◽

Karoline Knudsen ◽

Jacob Horsager ◽

Per Borghammer

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Gastrointestinal Pathology ◽

Wide Range ◽

Patients Experience ◽

Progressive Accumulation ◽

Non Motor Symptoms ◽

The Brain

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Patients show deposits of pathological, aggregated α-synuclein not only in the brain but throughout almost the entire length of the digestive tract. This gives rise to non-motor symptoms particularly within the gastrointestinal tract and patients experience a wide range of frequent and burdensome symptoms such as dysphagia, bloating, and constipation. Recent evidence suggests that progressive accumulation of gastrointestinal pathology is underway several years before a clinical diagnosis of PD. Notably, constipation has been shown to increase the risk of developing PD and in contrast, truncal vagotomy seems to decrease the risk of PD. Animal models have demonstrated gut-to-brain spreading of pathological α-synuclein and it is currently being intensely studied whether PD begins in the gut of some patients. Gastrointestinal symptoms in PD have been investigated by the use of several different questionnaires. However, there is limited correspondence between subjective gastrointestinal symptoms and objective dysfunction along the gastrointestinal tract, and often the magnitude of dysfunction is underestimated by the use of questionnaires. Therefore, objective measures are important tools to clarify the degree of dysfunction in future studies of PD. Here, we summarize the types and prevalence of subjective gastrointestinal symptoms and objective dysfunction in PD. The potential importance of the gastrointestinal tract in the etiopathogenesis of PD is briefly discussed.

Download Full-text

Detection of influenza virus in rectal swabs of patients admitted in hospital for febrile illnesses in Thailand

SAGE Open Medicine ◽

10.1177/2050312121989631 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 205031212198963

Author(s):

Artit Sangkakam ◽

Pasin Hemachudha ◽

Abhinbhen W Saraya ◽

Benjamard Thaweethee-Sukjai ◽

Thaniwan Cheun-Arom ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Hospital Stay ◽

Rectal Swab ◽

Average Length ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Virus Detection ◽

Length Of Hospital Stay ◽

Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽

Influenza Virus Detection

Introduction: Influenza virus favours the respiratory tract as its primary site of host entry and replication, and it is transmitted mainly via respiratory secretions. Nasopharyngeal swab is the gold standard specimen type for influenza detection, but several studies have also suggested that the virus replicates in the human gastrointestinal tract. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on all patients positive for influenza virus and initially recruited as part of the PREDICT project from 2017 to 2018. The objectives of the study were to investigate whether rectal swab could aid in improving influenza detection, and if there was any correlation between gastrointestinal disturbances and severity of infection, using length of hospital stay as an indicator of severity. Results: Of the 51 influenza-positive patients, 12 had detectable influenza virus in their rectal swab. Among these 12 rectal swab positive patients, influenza virus was not detected in the nasopharyngeal swab of three of them. Gastrointestinal symptoms were observed for 28.2% patients with a negative rectal swab negative and 25.0% patients with a positive rectal swab. Average length of hospital stay was 4.2 days for rectal swab positive group and 3.7 days for rectal swab negative group. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.288). Conclusions: There is no correlation between influenza virus detection in rectal swab and gastrointestinal disturbances or disease severity, and there is currently insufficient evidence to support replicative ability in the gastrointestinal tract.

Download Full-text

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases: Review and Update

ISRN Gastroenterology ◽

10.5402/2012/463689 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Mahreema Jawairia ◽

Ghulamullah Shahzad ◽

Paul Mustacchia

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Clinical Features ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽

Gastrointestinal Disorders ◽

Diverse Group ◽

Intestinal Diseases ◽

Gastrointestinal Inflammation ◽

Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) are a progressively more frequent diverse group of intestinal diseases. The intention of this paper is to present the newest developments in the care of patients with EGIDs and to sum up a rising literature defining the clinical features and mechanistic elements of eosinophils and their intricate associations with the gastrointestinal tract. Clinicians ought to stay sensitive to EGIDs as a diagnostic likelihood for patients with general gastrointestinal symptoms. Further research is warranted to establish various methods leading to dysfunction coupled with eosinophilic gastrointestinal inflammation.

Download Full-text

Nutritional programming of gastrointestinal tract development. Is the pig a good model for man?

Nutrition Research Reviews ◽

10.1017/s0954422410000077 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 4-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 172

Author(s):

Paul Guilloteau ◽

Romuald Zabielski ◽

Harald M. Hammon ◽

Cornelia C. Metges

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Animal Models ◽

Animal Studies ◽

Reference Model ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Mammalian Species ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Nutritional Programming ◽

The Impact

The consequences of early-life nutritional programming in man and other mammalian species have been studied chiefly at the metabolic level. Very few studies, if any, have been performed in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) as the target organ, but extensive GIT studies are needed since the GIT plays a key role in nutrient supply and has an impact on functions of the entire organism. The possible deleterious effects of nutritional programming at the metabolic level were discovered following epidemiological studies in human subjects, and confirmed in animal models. Investigating the impact of programming on GIT structure and function would need appropriate animal models due to ethical restrictions in the use of human subjects. The aim of the present review is to discuss the use of pigs as an animal model as a compromise between ethically acceptable animal studies and the requirement of data which can be interpolated to the human situation. In nutritional programming studies, rodents are the most frequently used model for man, but GIT development and digestive function in rodents are considerably different from those in man. In that aspect, the pig GIT is much closer to the human than that of rodents. The swine species is closely comparable with man in many nutritional and digestive aspects, and thus provides ample opportunity to be used in investigations on the consequences of nutritional programming for the GIT. In particular, the ‘sow–piglets’ dyad could be a useful tool to simulate the ‘human mother–infant’ dyad in studies which examine short-, middle- and long-term effects and is suggested as the reference model.

Download Full-text

Metastatic Melanoma Presenting as Intussusception in an 80-Year-Old Man: A Case Report

Case Reports in Pathology ◽

10.1155/2013/672816 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-3 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sarah Alghamdi ◽

Yumna Omarzai

Keyword(s):

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Small Intestine ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Metastatic Melanoma ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Common Site ◽

Neoplastic Process ◽

History Of ◽

Uncommon Neoplasm

Malignant melanoma of the gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon neoplasm that could be primary or metastatic. Small intestine represents the most common site for the metastatic melanoma; however, it could be found anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. Intussusception is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in adults compared to children. In 90% of the cases, the underlying cause can be found, and in 65% of the cases, intussusception is caused by the neoplastic process. The majority of the neoplasms are benign, and about 15% are malignant. Metastatic melanoma is one of the most common metastatic malignancies to the gastrointestinal tract; however, the premortem diagnosis is rarely made. Here, we report an uncommon clinical presentation of metastatic melanoma causing intussusception in an 80-year-old man. This diagnosis should be considered in a differential diagnosis in any patient who presents with gastrointestinal symptoms and a history of melanoma.

Download Full-text

Original SARS-CoV-2 vaccine model

Experimental and Clinical Gastroenterology ◽

10.31146/1682-8658-ecg-178-6-128-132 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 128-132

Author(s):

I. E. Khoroshilov

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Respiratory System ◽

Clinical Picture ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Single Case ◽

Viral Rna ◽

Human Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Oral Transmission ◽

Coronavirus Infection

The new coronavirus infection COVID-19 that appeared at the end of 2019 is signifi cantly different from the viral infections that existed previously. The new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus combines two transmission routes—aerosol and oral-intestinal. The targets for this virus are both cells of the respiratory system and the human gastrointestinal tract. Along with the classical form of this disease, the so-called “gastrointestinal” form is described, in which the clinical picture is dominated by signs of damage to the gastrointestinal tract (diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia). These symptoms are detected, in general, in 20% of patients with COVID-19. More than 80% of patients have mild forms, a third of these individuals had diarrhea. Although SARSCoV-2 viral RNA is detected in faeces samples of patients with COVID-19, it does not carry an infectious onset, and not a single case of fecal-oral transmission has been confi rmed. Since the intestines are the most powerful organ of our immune system, we can introduce SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA into the gastrointestinal tract to ensure the formation of immunity to this infection.

Download Full-text

The clinical features of COVID-19 patients with positive viral RNA stool test results and possibility of fecal-oral transmission : A Systematic Review

The Indonesian Journal of Gastroenterology Hepatology and Digestive Endoscopy ◽

10.24871/221202142-51 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 42-51

Author(s):

Selina Natalia ◽

Felicia Imanuella Thorion ◽

Luky Adlino ◽

Clifford Eltin John ◽

Andree Kurniawan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Viral Rna ◽

World Health ◽

Test Results ◽

Oral Transmission ◽

Positive Stool ◽

Health Organization

Objective : Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared as an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), with outbreaks in over 200 countries and causing over 390,000 deaths globally. ACE-2 receptors are highly expressed in the upper and lower gastrointestinal system, providing a prerequisite for SARS-CoV-2 infection in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, over half of the COVID-19 patients have viral nucleic acid detected in their feces and almost one-quarter of the cases, the stool samples test positive even when respiratory samples are negative. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize literature and to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with positive viral RNA stool test for COVID-19 and if there is a possibility of fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 virus.Method : This systematic review has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020183049). A systematic search of the literature for observational study and randomized control trial was conducted in PubMed central and Google Scholar through May 5th, 2020. Three reviewers independently searched and selected. The risk of bias was evaluated using Newcastle-Ottawa Quality assessment tool.Results : 340 articles were screened, then from which eight articles were selected. Of eight articles that were included in this study, we sought for three main categories of the clinical manifestation; gastrointestinal, respiratory, and others. Each study was reviewed systematically to gain demographic data and evidence regarding the possibility of fecal oral transmission in SARS-CoV-2. Two studies reported prolongation of positive stool test results after the respiratory specimen conversion to negative which support the theory of fecal oral transmission.Conclusion : In conclusion, diarrhea, cough, and fever are the most common clinical manifestations in COVID-19 patients with positive RNA stool test results. Fecal oral transmission may be possible due to the ACE-2 receptors in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. RNA stool test should be used as addition in discharging COVID-19 patients.

Download Full-text

Efficacy, Mechanism, and Safety of Herbal Medicine for Respiratory Disease Induced by Particulate Matter: a Protocol for a Scoping Review

10.21203/rs.3.rs-295016/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jungtae Leem ◽

Yohwan Kim ◽

Kwan-Il Kim

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Animal Models ◽

Respiratory Disease ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Respiratory Diseases ◽

English Language ◽

Herbal Medicines ◽

Cochrane Central Register

Abstract Background: Particulate matter (PM) is an important environmental risk factor in the initiation and exacerbation of respiratory disease. Various herbal medicines have exhibited a reduction in symptoms of respiratory diseases induced by PM in animal models; however, their efficacy, mechanism, and safety have not been reviewed. This review will evaluate the efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action of herbal medicines in respiratory diseases caused by PM. Methods:We will follow the scoping review framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley. MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials will be searched for relevant English-language publications, and only peer-reviewed, controlled comparative in-vivo/in-vitro studies examining the effects of herbs in animal models of respiratory disease induced by PM will be included. The basic characteristics, research method, possible mechanism, and results will be extracted. The primary outcome will be pulmonary function; secondary outcomes will be inflammatory markers, reactive oxygen species, histology and mechanisms, and adverse events. Two researchers will independently perform the study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment. RevMan software (version 5.3) will be used for the quantitative data synthesis. When appropriate, data will be pooled for meta-analysis using fixed or random effects models; otherwise, evidence will be summarized qualitatively. Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval is not required because individual patient data will not be included. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications or conference presentations.Registration number: This review protocol has been registered with the Open Science Framework on February 12, 2021 (https://osf.io/s7uvk/)

Download Full-text

COVID-19 aus der Sicht der Gastroenterologie

DMW - Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift ◽

10.1055/a-1167-5825 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 145 (15) ◽

pp. 1033-1038

Author(s):

Christian Schulz ◽

Julia Mayerle ◽

Hans Christian Stubbe ◽

Simon Sirtl ◽

Markus M. Lerch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Abdominal Pain ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Gastrointestinal Symptoms ◽

Clinical Routine ◽

Fecal Samples ◽

Oral Transmission ◽

Number Of Patients ◽

New Variant ◽

Therapeutic Procedures ◽

Loss Of Appetite

AbstractCOVID 19, caused by SARS-CoV2, a new variant of coronaviruses, typically presents with respiratory symptoms. However, in a significat number of patients different organs are involved in the disease, often including gastrointestinal symptoms. These could include loss of appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea, with diarrhea being associated with a more severe course of COVID-19. Because viral RNA can be detected in fecal samples, some implications for clinical routine in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are grown. Until yet, no clear evidence is given regarding fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV2.

Download Full-text