“We believe this study is the first to detect viral RNA and/or antigen in the tissues of patients with Long Covid, up to 426 days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms.”
While viral RNA and antigen from gastrointestinal and stool samples of convalescent patients has been extensively reported, we believe this is the first study to detect viable virus. Furthermore, our positive finding in the breast tissue also corroborated with recent reports that immunocompromised patients had also experienced Long Covid symptoms and persistent viral replication. Overall, our findings, along with emerging LC studies, question the possibility of the gastrointestinal tract functioning as a reservoir.
