Clinical and Virological Characteristics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant: A Prospective Cohort Study. (1st April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Sunghee; Lim, So Yun; Kim, Ji Yeun; Park, Heedo; Lim, Joon Seo; Bae, Seongman; Kim, Jeonghun; Jung, Jiwon; Kim, Min Jae; Chong, Yong Pil; Choi, Sang Ho; Lee, Sang Oh; Kim, Yang Soo; Park, Man Seong; Kim, Sung Han
• Is Part Of: Clinical infectious diseases. Volume 75:Number 1(2022)
• Page Start: e27
• Page End: e34
• Publication Date: 2022-04-01
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 -- Delta variant -- viral shedding -- subgenomic RNA -- culture; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac239
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-4838

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Data on the clinical and virological characteristics of the Delta variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are limited. This prospective cohort study compared the characteristics of the Delta variant to other variants. Methods: Adult patients with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who agreed to daily saliva sampling at a community isolation facility in South Korea between July and August 2021 were enrolled. Scores of 28 COVID-19-related symptoms were recorded daily. The genomic RNA and subgenomic RNA from saliva samples were measured by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Cell cultures were performed on saliva samples with positive genomic RNA results. Results: A total of 141 patients (Delta group, n = 108 [77%]; non-Delta group, n = 33 [23%]) were enrolled. Myalgia was more common in the Delta group than in the non-Delta group (52% vs 27%, P = .03). Total symptom scores were significantly higher in the Delta group between days 3 and 10 after symptom onset. Initial genomic RNA titers were similar between the 2 groups; however, during the late course of disease, genomic RNA titers were higher in the Delta group. Negative conversion of subgenomic RNA was slower in the Delta group (median 9 vs 5 days; P < .001). The duration of viral shedding in terms of positive viral culture was also longer in the Delta group (median 5 vs 3 days; P = .002). Conclusions: COVID-19 patients infected with the Delta variant exhibited prolonged viable viral shedding with more severe symptoms than those infected with non-Delta variants. Abstract : Symptom score collection, subgenomic RNA measurement and cell cultures showed that patients infected with the Delta variant exhibited more severe symptoms with prolonged symptom duration, higher viral loads, and prolonged viable viral shedding than those infected with non-Delta variants.