Temporal dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 shedding in feces and saliva: a longitudinal study in Norfolk, United Kingdom during the 2021–2022 COVID-19 waves
This study provides critical insights into the dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) shedding in fecal and saliva samples, demonstrating that while viral RNA is detectable shortly after diagnosis, its prevalence declines rapidly over the course of infection. Detection was more common among individuals with more concurrent symptoms, emphasizing the potential influence of symptom burden on viral persistence. By analyzing a United Kingdom-based cohort, this study fills a significant gap in the literature, which has largely focused on Asian and North American populations, offering a geographically unique perspective on viral shedding dynamics. Our findings contribute to a globally relevant understanding of SARS-CoV-2 shedding by revealing differences in shedding durations compared to studies from other regions. These differences highlight the need for geographically diverse research to account for variations in genetic background, immune response, and healthcare practices.
Authors
- Enriqueta García-Gutiérrez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5683-7924)
- George M. Savva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9190-124X)
- Annalisa Altera (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7844-1752)
- David Baker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8872-8711)
- Antonietta Hayhoe
- Arjan Narbad (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2968-7558)
- Christian Hacon
- Lizbeth Sayavedra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5814-9471)
- Leonardo de Oliveira Martins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5247-1320)
- Ngozi Elumogo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7354-3532)
- Lee Kellingray (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6135-6321)
- Chloe Hutchins (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7797-9833)
- Stefano Romano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7600-1953)
- Daniel Yara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0482-7059)
- J Snell
Institutions
- Norwich Research Park (GB)
- Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
- Quadram Institute (GB)
- Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (ES)
- James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Microbiology Spectrum
- Published
- 2025-03-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.03195-24
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.40
Funders
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council