Virus-specific RNA and Antibody from Convalescent-phase SARS Patients Discharged from Hospital

摘要

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is causedby a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV). In a longitudinalcross-sectional study, we determined the prevalence ofvirus in bodily excretions and time of seroconversion in dis-charged patients with SARS. Conjunctival, throat, stool,and urine specimens were collected weekly from 64patients and tested for SARS-CoV RNA by real-time poly-merase chain reaction; serum samples were collectedweekly and tested for SARS-CoV antibody with indirectenzyme immunoassay and immunofluorescence assay. Intotal, 126 conjunctival, 124 throat swab, 116 stool, and 124urine specimens were analyzed. Five patients had positivestool samples, collected in weeks 5–9. Two patients sero-converted in weeks 7 and 8; the others were seropositiveat the first serum sample collection. In this study, 5 (7.8%)of 64 patients continued to shed viral RNA in stool samplesonly, for up to week 8 of illness. Most seroconversionsoccurred by week 6 of illness