Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38500723›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2024

SARS-CoV-2 presence in recreational seawater and evaluation of intestine permeability: experimental evidence of low impact on public health.

Clelia Norese, Elena Nicosia, Katia Cortese, Valentina Gentili, Roberta Rizzo, Sabrina Rizzo, Elena Grasselli, Giulia De Negri Atanasio, Maria Cristina Gagliani, Micaela Tiso and 3 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact, top 96% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed, 0 citations in OpenAlex.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Clelia NoreseDIMES, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Elena NicosiaRegione Liguria, Environmental Department, Ligurian Region, Genoa, Italy.
Katia CorteseDIMES, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Valentina GentiliDepartment of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Roberta RizzoDepartment of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Sabrina RizzoDepartment of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Elena GrasselliDepartment of Earth, Environmental, and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Giulia De Negri AtanasioDepartment of Earth, Environmental, and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Maria Cristina GaglianiDIMES, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Micaela TisoMICAMO, Spin-Off Department of Earth Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Matteo ZinniMICAMO, Spin-Off Department of Earth Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Alessandra PullieroDISSAL, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
Alberto IzzottiDIMES, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
University of Genoa · ITUniversity of Ferrara · ITAgenzia Regionale per la Protezione dell'ambiente ligure · ITOspedale Policlinico San Martino · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Coastal seawater pollution poses a public health risk due to the potential ingestion of contaminated water during recreational activities. Wastewater-based epidemiology has revealed the abundant presence of SARS-CoV-2 in seawater emitted from wastewater outlets. The objective of this research was to investigate the impact of seawater on SARS-CoV-2 infectivity to assess the safety of recreational activities in seawater. Methods: Wild SARS-CoV-2 was collected from oral swabs of COVID-19 affected patients and incubated for up to 90 min using the following solutions: (a) standard physiological solution (control), (b) reconstructed seawater (3.5% NaCl), and (c) authentic seawater (3.8%). Samples were then exposed to two different host systems: (a) Vero E6 cells expressing the ACE2 SARS-CoV-2 receptor and (b) 3D multi-tissue organoids reconstructing the human intestine. The presence of intracellular virus inside the host systems was determined using plaque assay, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and transmission electron microscopy. Results: Ultrastructural examination of Vero E6 cells revealed the presence of virus particles at the cell surface and in replicative compartments inside cells treated with seawater and/or reconstituted water only for samples incubated up to 2 min. After a 90-min incubation, the presence of the virus and its infectivity in Vero E6 cells was reduced by 90%. Ultrastructural analysis performed in 3D epi-intestinal tissue did not reveal intact viral particles or infection signs, despite the presence of viral nucleic acid detected by qPCR. Indeed, viral genes (Orf1ab and N) were found in the intestinal luminal epithelium but not in the enteric capillaries. These findings suggest that the intestinal tissue is not a preferential entry site for SARS-CoV-2 in the human body. Additionally, the presence of hypertonic saline solution did not increase the susceptibility of the intestinal epithelium to virus penetration; rather, it neutralized its infectivity. Conclusion: Our results indicate that engaging in recreational activities in a seawater environment does not pose a significant risk for COVID-19 infection, despite the possible presence of viral nucleic acid deriving from degraded and fragmented viruses.

Indexed as

COVID-19Nucleic AcidsHumansPermeabilityPublic HealthSARS-CoV-2SeawaterWaterNucleic AcidsWaterCOVID-19infectivitypublic healthsaltwaterSARS-CoV-2seawater

Identifiers

PMID38500723
PMCPMC10944960
OpenAlexW4392401680

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.