Weakened by her aggressive cancer treatment, her immune system never produced any antibodies. According to the researchers, the virus would have evolved and mutated in this same host.
A patient Brazilian, in his 40s, tested positive for 218 consecutive days, between September 2020 and April this year. The man, in his forties, had already undergone aggressive cancer treatment.
“Viral variants better adapted to the human organism”
A case highlighted by a study conducted by researchers at the University of São Paulo and published on the medRxiv platform.
The academics stress in particular that cancer treatment had weakened the patient’s immune system to such an extent that he never produced any antibody, according to the numerous serological tests carried out. In addition, the researchers found that the virus had evolved and transferred. “This virus replication capacity was observed continuously and persistently for a period of 196 consecutive days”, explains María Mendes-Correa, professor at the USP School of Medicine. Mutations within the same host generally observed within the same population. “It is a worrying phenomenon, because it favors the emergence of viral variants better adapted to the human organism”, adds María Mendes-Correa.
A patient who has been isolated throughout his recovery, whether in hospital or at home.