Dental biofilm of symptomatic COVID-19 patients harbours SARS-CoV-2

Sabrina Carvalho Gomes, Sabrina Fachin, Juliane Gonçalves da Fonseca, Patrícia Daniela Melchiors Angst, Marcelo Lazzaron Lamers, Ilma Simoni Brum da Silva, Luciana Neves Nunes, Sabrina Carvalho Gomes, Sabrina Fachin, Juliane Gonçalves da Fonseca, Patrícia Daniela Melchiors Angst, Marcelo Lazzaron Lamers, Ilma Simoni Brum da Silva, Luciana Neves Nunes

Abstract

Aims: SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been recovered from different sites in the human body, including the mouth. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the dental biofilm of symptomatic patients who tested positive in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal (NASO/ORO) samples.

Materials & methods: An observational clinical study of individuals with flu-like symptoms was conducted between July and September 2020. Dental biofilm (BIO) samples were collected and analysed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to determine the virus's presence.

Results: Seventy participants (40 ± 9.8 years of age, 71.4% female) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in NASO/ORO samples and were included in the study. Among them, 13 tested positive in BIO samples (18.6%; 95% CI: [9.5, 27.7]). The median and interquartile range of cycle quantification (Cq) for NASO/ORO and BIO samples were 15.9 [6.9] and 35.9 [4.0] (p = .001), respectively. BIO-positive participants showed a higher virus load in NASO/ORO samples (p = .012) than those testing negative (Cq = 20.4 [6.1]).

Conclusions: Dental biofilms from symptomatic COVID-19 patients harbour SARS-CoV-2 RNA and might be a potential reservoir with an essential role in COVID-19 transmission.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; dental plaque; observational study; pandemics.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have stated that there are no conflicts of interest in connection with this article.

© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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