Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 incervico-vaginal secretion of COVID-19-affected female: A prospectiveobservational study from India

摘要

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (also known as2019-nCoV) is a highly infectious agent and is declared as a global publichealth emergency by the World Health Organisation. The main knowntransmission route of severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 isthrough respiratory air droplets. Although recent studies have revealed thatthe virus is detectable in the throat, blood, urine, anal swabs, tears andeven faeces; however, modes of transmission other than respiratory dropletshas not been studied much. Knowledge on the presence of the virus in thefemale genital tract may help determine the risk of sexual transmission aswell as the risk of mother-to-child transmission. However, not much data areavailable yet regarding the presence of the virus in the female genitalsystem. Hence, to explore the presence of the virus in the female genitalsystem and possibility of sexual transmission, a study was conducted wherein we tried to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 incervico-vaginal secretions.