Article (Scientific journals)
Eye Infection with SARS-CoV-2 as a Route to Systemic Immunization?
Schrage, Norbert; Blomet, Joel; Holzer, Frank et al.
2022In Viruses, 14 (7), p. 1447
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Keywords :
conjunctiva; immunization; MALT; mucosa; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 conjunctivitis; Infectious Diseases; Virology
Abstract :
[en] Infectious diseases of the conjunctiva and cornea usually leave behind both broad local and systemic immunity. Case reports of SARS-CoV-2-positive conjunctivitis with subsequent systemic immunity suggest a new route of immunization preventing the primary infection of the airways. Material and Methods: A total of 24 Syrian field hamsters were treated. In systematic animal experiments, we infected the eyes of n = 8 animals (group 1) and the airways of another n = 8 animals (group 2) with SARS-CoV-2 (Wuhan type); n = 8 hamsters served as controls (group 3). The weight development of the animals was recorded. After two weeks of observation of disease symptoms, all animals were re-exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tract (challenge) to determine whether immunity to the virus had been achieved. Results: The epi-ocularly infected animals (group 1) showed no clinically visible disease during the ocular infection phase. At most, there was a slightly reduced weight gain compared to the control group (group 3), while the respiratory infected animals (group 2) all lost weight, became lethargic, and slowly recovered after two weeks. After the challenge, none of the animals in groups 1 and 2 became ill again. The animals in the negative control (group 3) all became ill. Cytotoxic antibodies were detectable in the blood of the infected groups before and after challenge, with higher titers in the epi-ocularly infected animals. Conclusion: By epi-ocular infection with SARS-CoV-2, the development of systemic immunity with formation of cytotoxic antibodies without severe general disease could be observed in the experimental animals, which did not induce any more disease upon a second infection in the respiratory tract. Therefore, it can be concluded that a purely epi-ocular infection with SARS-CoV2 only induces a weak disease pattern followed by systemic immunity.
Disciplines :
Immunology & infectious disease
Author, co-author :
Schrage, Norbert ;  ACTO e.V., Aachen, Germany
Blomet, Joel;  Laboratoires Prevor, Moulin de Verville, Valmondois, France
Holzer, Frank;  Ursapharm Arzneimittel GmbH, Saarbrücken, Germany
Tromme, Audrey ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Santé publique vétérinaire
Ectors, Fabien  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Santé publique vétérinaire
Desmecht, Daniel ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Santé publique vétérinaire
Language :
English
Title :
Eye Infection with SARS-CoV-2 as a Route to Systemic Immunization?
Publication date :
July 2022
Journal title :
Viruses
eISSN :
1999-4915
Publisher :
MDPI
Volume :
14
Issue :
7
Pages :
1447
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Funders :
Prevor Int.
Funding text :
Funding: This research was funded by Laboratoires Prevor, Moulin de Verville; F-95670 Valmondois, France and Ursapharm Arzneimittel GmbH Industriestraße 35, 66129 Saarbrücken, Germany.
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since 21 August 2022

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