A man who had recovered from COVID and tested negative on nasopharyngeal swab was found to have SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in his small intestine, especially in ulcerated areas. 1/
This was associated with increased Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Fibronectin expression, as well as structural changes in intercellular junctions between intestinal cells. 2/
SARS-CoV-2 can persist in the gut and cause long-term effects, inducing vascular and epithelial changes, even after it is no longer detected in the nose or throat. 3/
This case study demonstrates the pathogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the GI tract, with a relevant virus effect at the level of vascular impairments and tight junction integrity, although the virus was no longer detected at nasopharyngeal level. 4/
The observations support the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to significant and persistent alterations in gut morphology and function, even in patients who test negative for the virus in nasopharyngeal swabs. 5/5
virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.11…
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