Abstract
Information about factors potentially favoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in rural settings is limited. Following a case-control study design in a rural Ecuadorian village that was severely struck by the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 RNA were detected by real-time PCR in swabs obtained from inner and upper walls in 24/48 randomly selected latrines from case-houses and in 12/48 flushing toilets from paired control-houses (P = 0.014; McNemar’s test). This association persisted in a conditional logistic regression model adjusted for relevant covariates (OR: 4.82; 95% CI: 1.38-16.8; P = 0.014). In addition, SARS-CoV-2-seropositive subjects were more often identified among those living in houses with a latrine (P = 0.002). Latrines have almost five times the odds of containing SARS-CoV-2 RNA than their paired flushing toilets. Latrines are reservoirs of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and it cannot be ruled out that latrines could contribute to viral transmission in rural settings. Frequent disinfection of latrines should be recommended to reduce the likelihood of fecal contamination.
【초록키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, pandemic, Spread, Contamination, Viral, Real-time PCR, swabs, Viral transmission, SARS-CoV-2 RNA, Swab, case-control study, association, Fecal contamination, fecal, can not, Struck by, Factor, 95% CI, subject, logistic regression model, covariate, seropositive subjects, reservoirs, reservoir, toilets, FIVE, likelihood, Randomly, latrine, selected, addition, adjusted, contribute, reduce, 【제목키워드】 setting, Sample, Flushing, Latin,