SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 reinfection after previous COVID-19 in two immunocompetent Italian patients.

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Two immunocompetent Italian patients were reinfected with the SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant after a previous COVID-19 infection.

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Abstract

To date only one case of SARS-COV-2 B.1.1.7 reinfection has been reported. We report here two more such reinfection cases in Lombardy residents.
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SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 reinfection after previous COVID-19 in two immunocompetent Italian patients. | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Case Report SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 reinfection after previous COVID-19 in two immunocompetent Italian patients. Federica Novazzi, Andreina Baj, Angelo Genoni, Pietro Giorgio Spezia, and 10 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-334049/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract To date only one case of SARS-COV-2 B.1.1.7 reinfection has been reported. We report here two more such reinfection cases in Lombardy residents. Virology SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 variant of concern B.1.1.7 20I/501Y.V1 UK variant VOC 202012/01 Main Text Case 1 was a 56-years old immunocompetent male, a former smoker with obesity and dyslipidemia. He was employed as a truck driver, moving across Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. On December 31, 2020, he presented at Varese hospital’s emergency room with moderate dyspnea; he was discharged and treated at home with levofloxacin, corticosteroids, and low molecular weight heparin. Clinical conditions worsened, and he was readmitted to the hospital on January 3, when interstitial pneumonia was diagnosed and treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation was initiated. On Jan 4, he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on the nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) (1242 RLU on Hologic Panther; Ct 10 on Abbott m2000). On Jan 6, he was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) and intubated. On Jan 10, the patient was moved to the ICU of Milan hospital for logistical reasons, pronated, and finally extubated on Jan 20. He was then moved to the COVID ward: the radiological pattern of pneumonia showed marked improvement, and NPSs tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on Jan 23, Jan 31, and Feb 2. On Feb 3, he was moved to a different hospital for rehabilitation. On Feb 4, a new NPS tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (1233 RLU on Hologic Panther; C t 24 on Abbott m2000), while anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 194 AU/ml (LIAISON® SARS-CoV-2 Ab; DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy), and C-reactive protein rose to 64 mg/l, but without clinical worsening. On Feb 5, serology was repeated on a new sample with the concordant result (169 AU/ml), but additional NPSs tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on Feb 5, Feb 6, and Feb 11. At this point, we sequenced the RBD fragment of the spike gene from NPS samples dated Jan 4 and Feb 4, as previously reported (2). While the Jan 4 RBD region showed no mutations when compared with SARS CoV-2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1, the Feb 4 strain resulted in with all the barcoding mutations described above (deposited in GenBank as MW599860). Case 2 was a 58-years old immunocompetent male who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on NPS on Jan 7, 2021. He was treated at home with azithromycin, enoxaparin, and prednisone, required hospital admission on Jan 18, where interstitial pneumonia was diagnosed. On Jan 19, he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on NPS (1302 RLU on Hologic Panther), and he was moved to the COVID ward for oxygen support, progressing to CPAP ventilation on Jan 21. CPAP was discontinued on Jan 26, and two follow-up NPSs on Jan 31, and Feb 2 were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. New NPSs on Feb 4 and 6 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (1181 RLU on Hologic Panther, and Ct 27 on m2000 Abbott, respectively), with anti-RBD IgG >400 AU/ml. On Feb 10 the patient was moved to subacute medical unit. At that point, we decided to sequence the RBD from NPS samples dated Jan 19 and Feb 6: the Jan 19 RBD sequence showed absence of mutation if compared with SARS CoV-2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1, while the Feb 6 strain resulted in B.1.1.7 (deposited in GenBank as MW599954). According to Facebook mobility data(3), in 16 out of 19 countries analyzed, there is at least a 50% chance the variant was already imported by travelers from the UK by December 7 th (4), with Italy being the country with the highest risk. Accordingly, many cases have been reported in Lombardy. Theoretical models have estimated the reinfection rate at 0.7%, similar to older strains (5), so that many more cases are likely undetected. Declarations We declare we have no conflict of interest to disclose. Informed consent was obtained from the patients. References Harrington D, Kele B, Pereira S, Couto-Parada X, Riddell A, Forbes S, et al. Confirmed Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 Variant VOC-202012/01. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2021 Jan 9:ciab014. Maggi F, Novazzi F, Genoni A, Baj A, Spezia PG, Focosi D, et al. Imported SARS-COV-2 Variant P.1 Detected in Traveler Returning from Brazil to Italy. Emerging Infectious Disease journal. 2021;27(4). COVID-19 Mobility Data Network. Available from: https://visualization.covid19mobility.org/?date=2021-02-09&dates=2020-11-09_2021-02-09®ion=WORLD . Du Z, Wang L, Yang B, Ali ST, Yang B, K. Tsang T, et al. International risk of the new variant COVID-19 importations originating in the United Kingdom. 2021:2021.01.09.21249384. Graham MS, Sudre CH, May A, Antonelli M, Murray B, Varsavsky T, et al. The effect of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 on symptomatology, re-infection and transmissibility. 2021:2021.01.28.21250680. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. 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He was employed as a truck driver, moving across Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. On December 31, 2020, he presented at Varese hospital\u0026rsquo;s emergency room with moderate dyspnea; he was discharged and treated at home with levofloxacin, corticosteroids, and low molecular weight heparin. Clinical conditions worsened, and he was readmitted to the hospital on January 3, when interstitial pneumonia was diagnosed and treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation was initiated. On Jan 4, he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on the nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) (1242 RLU on Hologic Panther; Ct 10 on Abbott m2000). On Jan 6, he was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) and intubated. On Jan 10, \u0026nbsp;the patient was moved to the ICU of Milan hospital for logistical reasons, pronated, and finally extubated on Jan 20. He was then moved to the COVID ward: the radiological pattern of pneumonia showed marked improvement, and NPSs tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on Jan 23, Jan 31, and Feb 2. On Feb 3, he was moved to a different hospital for rehabilitation. On Feb 4, a new NPS tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (1233 RLU on Hologic Panther; C\u003csub\u003et\u003c/sub\u003e 24 on Abbott m2000), while anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 194 AU/ml (LIAISON\u0026reg; SARS-CoV-2 Ab; DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy), and C-reactive protein rose to 64 mg/l, but without clinical worsening. On Feb 5, serology was repeated on a new sample with the concordant result (169 AU/ml), but additional NPSs tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on Feb 5, Feb 6, and Feb 11. At this point, we sequenced the RBD fragment of the spike gene from NPS samples dated Jan 4 and Feb 4, as previously reported (2). While the Jan 4 RBD region showed no mutations when compared with SARS CoV-2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1, the Feb 4 strain resulted \u0026nbsp;in with all the barcoding mutations described above (deposited in GenBank as MW599860).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCase 2 was a 58-years old immunocompetent male who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on NPS on Jan 7, 2021. He was treated at home with azithromycin, enoxaparin, and prednisone, \u0026nbsp;required hospital admission on Jan 18, where interstitial pneumonia was diagnosed. On Jan 19, he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on NPS (1302 RLU on Hologic Panther), and he was moved to the COVID ward \u0026nbsp;for oxygen support, progressing to CPAP ventilation on Jan 21. CPAP was discontinued on Jan 26, and two follow-up NPSs on Jan 31, and Feb 2 were negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. New NPSs on Feb 4 and 6 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (1181 RLU on Hologic Panther, and Ct 27 on m2000 Abbott, respectively), with anti-RBD IgG \u0026nbsp;\u0026gt;400 AU/ml. On Feb 10 the patient was moved to subacute medical unit. At that point, we decided to sequence the RBD from NPS samples dated Jan 19 and Feb 6: the Jan 19 RBD sequence showed absence of mutation if compared with SARS CoV-2 isolate Wuhan-Hu-1, while the Feb 6 strain resulted in B.1.1.7 (deposited in GenBank as MW599954).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Facebook mobility data(3), in 16 out of 19 countries analyzed, there is at least a 50% chance the variant was already imported by travelers from the UK by December 7\u003csup\u003eth\u003c/sup\u003e (4), with Italy being the country with the highest risk. Accordingly, many cases have been reported in Lombardy. Theoretical models have estimated the reinfection rate at 0.7%, similar to older strains (5), so that many more cases are likely undetected.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003eWe declare we have no conflict of interest to disclose.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInformed consent was obtained from the patients.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarrington D, Kele B, Pereira S, Couto-Parada X, Riddell A, Forbes S, et al. Confirmed Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 Variant VOC-202012/01. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2021 Jan 9:ciab014.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaggi F, Novazzi F, Genoni A, Baj A, Spezia PG, Focosi D, et al. Imported SARS-COV-2 Variant P.1 Detected in Traveler Returning from Brazil to Italy. Emerging Infectious Disease journal. 2021;27(4).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCOVID-19 Mobility Data Network. Available from: \u003ca href=\"https://visualization.covid19mobility.org/?date=2021-02-09\u0026amp;dates=2020-11-09_2021-02-09\u0026amp;region=WORLD\"\u003ehttps://visualization.covid19mobility.org/?date=2021-02-09\u0026amp;dates=2020-11-09_2021-02-09\u0026amp;region=WORLD\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDu Z, Wang L, Yang B, Ali ST, Yang B, K. Tsang T, et al. International risk of the new variant COVID-19 importations originating in the United Kingdom. 2021:2021.01.09.21249384.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGraham MS, Sudre CH, May A, Antonelli M, Murray B, Varsavsky T, et al. The effect of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 on symptomatology, re-infection and transmissibility. 2021:2021.01.28.21250680.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"University of Insubria","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, variant of concern, B.1.1.7, 20I/501Y.V1, UK variant, VOC 202012/01","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-334049/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-334049/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eTo date only one case of SARS-COV-2 B.1.1.7 reinfection has been reported. We report here two more such reinfection cases in Lombardy residents.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 reinfection after previous COVID-19 in two immunocompetent Italian patients.","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2021-03-16 21:25:13","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-334049/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"9b8f6e9a-d317-4cc2-a91a-13644faffc47","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 16th, 2021","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":3019113,"name":"Virology"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2021-03-16T21:25:14+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2021-03-16 21:25:13","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-334049","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-334049","identity":"rs-334049","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"-HB7Z8yhvgn0wM9Nzuekk","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}

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