Abstract
Purpose: Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in human retinal biopsies (RBs) was previously reported by us. In this consecutive study, we analysed RB and optic nerve biopsies (ONBs) in deceased patients with confirmed COVID-19 assessing viral RNA load, possible virus replication and infectivity.
Patients and methods: In this case series, 14 eyes of 14 deceased patients with COVID-19 were enucleated during autopsy. RB and ONB were subjected to molecular detection of viral RNA, virus cultivation and immunohistochemistry. SARS-CoV-2 RNA loads were compared with RNA loads in the respective throat swabs, vitreous humour and blood samples.
Results: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 7/14 RBs and in 10/13 ONBs. While virus isolation failed and immunohistochemistry of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was negative, subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) was detectable (40% RB; 60% ONB).
Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 RNA is detectable in RB and ONB of patients with COVID-19. Presence of sgRNA could point to a SARS-CoV-2 infection of neuronal tissue, but as virus isolation failed and immunohistochemistry of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was negative, an active infection seems unlikely.
Keywords: COVID-19; microbiology; optic nerve; retina.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Microbiology, Retina, optic nerve, 【초록키워드】 immunohistochemistry, Microbiology, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infection, Autopsy, Spike protein, RNA, Case series, virus isolation, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, Patient, sgRNA, virus replication, SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Viral RNA, eye, molecular, Retina, viral RNA load, virus cultivation, Blood, optic nerve, Deceased, biopsy, tissue, Blood samples, throat swabs, while, vitreous, RNA loads, humour, reported, detectable, unlikely, analysed, neuronal, patients with COVID-19, Presence, RNA load, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, detection, RNA, Retina, genomic, patients with COVID-19,