title: Organ distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in SARS patients: implications for pathogenesis and virus transmission pathways.
abstract: We previously identified the major pathological changes in the respiratory and immune systems of patients who died of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) but gained little information on the organ distribution of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). In the present study, we used a murine monoclonal antibody specific for SARS-CoV nucleoprotein, and probes specific for a SARS-CoV RNA polymerase gene fragment, for immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively, to detect SARS-CoV systematically in tissues from patients who died of SARS. SARS-CoV was found in lung, trachea/bronchus, stomach, small intestine, distal convoluted renal tubule, sweat gland, parathyroid, pituitary, pancreas, adrenal gland, liver and cerebrum, but was not detected in oesophagus, spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, heart, aorta, cerebellum, thyroid, testis, ovary, uterus or muscle. These results suggest that, in addition to the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal tract and other organs with detectable SARS-CoV may also be targets of SARS-CoV infection. The pathological changes in these organs may be caused directly by the cytopathic effect mediated by local replication of the SARS-CoV; or indirectly as a result of systemic responses to respiratory failure or the harmful immune response induced by viral infection. In addition to viral spread through a respiratory route, SARS-CoV in the intestinal tract, kidney and sweat glands may be excreted via faeces, urine and sweat, thereby leading to virus transmission. This study provides important information for understanding the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV infection and sheds light on possible virus transmission pathways. This data will be useful for designing new strategies for prevention and treatment of SARS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Nan Fang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou, China. dyq@fimmu.com
authors.forename: Yanqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Qingling
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhongxi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Che
authors.forename: Jinlin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Huijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Liwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Zhuguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Huixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Desheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Shibo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D009698:Nucleoproteins; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014764:Viral Proteins; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases