key: cord-0726401-z5f0aobx
authors: Lei, Guanglin; Meng, Fanping; Wang, Cheng; Yan, Jin; Sun, Fang; Shi, Lei; Li, Wengang; Luan, Junqing; Wang, Siyu; Yang, Penghui
title: The breadth of concomitant virological features in a family cluster outbreak of COVID‐19 pneumonia
date: 2021-06-06
journal: J Med Virol
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27055
sha: a8ef7b1ddd038e7ae3f86952913982e908a7b202
doc_id: 726401
cord_uid: z5f0aobx

An outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) had emerged in 2019 and rapidly posed a global epidemic. Here, we report the breadth of concomitant virological features of a family cluster with COVID‐19. The period of virus shedding is significantly different between upper respiratory and feces samples. Even the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus titers were undetectable in feces, it could be positive again soon and likely related to fluctuated inflammation levels (interleukin‐6, etc.) and lowered immune responses (CD4 + T lymphocyte, etc.). Our findings expand the novel understanding of the breadth of concomitant virological features during a non‐severe family cluster of COVID‐19.

symptoms, such as severe fever, cough, respiratory discomfort, and influenza. [1] [2] [3] Family clusters of infected individuals have been reported, and cause a serious threat to public health. 4 In a previously reported family cluster, most infected individuals had clinical symptoms or they are asymptomatic cases. 1, 5 However, clinical temporary progression and viral shedding of each family member was still elusive. Here, we report the virological features concerning clinical characteristics and immune response of a family cluster with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 that required hospitalization. On January 27, 2020, a family cluster of three, returned from Wuhan to Beijing, was diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus by the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The three patients made a relatively slow recovery and were discharged on February 15, 2020. The three patients had normal or lower than average total white plasma cell counts. Substantially increased C-reactive protein, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase levels (Table S1) . Patient 2 showed multifocal patchy ground-glass opacities, especially around the peripheral parts of the lungs on CT scans, which were compatible with changes seen in viral pneumonia. With the antiviral treatment, the pulmonary symptoms significantly improved by lung CT scanning ( Figure S1 ). On the contrary, the other two patients did not have obvious pulmonary symptoms ( Figure S2 ).

In this family cluster, we collected the throat, urine, plasma, hand, 

Asymptomatic cases in a family cluster with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19): the epidemic and the challenges

A review of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)

A familial cluster of pneumonia associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus indicating person-toperson transmission: a study of a family cluster

A family cluster of SARS-CoV-2 infection involving 11 patients in Nanjing, China

The authors declare that there are no conflict of interests.

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital.

Written informed consent for publication of their clinical details and clinical images was obtained from all included patients and guardians of the patient. Consent to publish has been obtained.