Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection with Accumulation of Mutations in a Patient with Poorly Controlled HIV Infection

4Discipline of Virology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences and National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), University of KwaZulu–Natal

Gert van Zyl

National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS); Stellenbosch University, Division of Medical Virology

Tulio de Oliveira

University of KwaZulu-Natal - School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences

Wolfgang Preiser

Division of Medical Virology; Stellenbosch University - Division of Medical Virology

Date Written: January 21, 2022

Abstract

A 22-year-old female with uncontrolled advanced HIV infection was persistently infected with SARS-CoV-2 beta variant for 9 months, the virus accumulating >20 additional mutations. Antiretroviral therapy suppressed HIV and cleared SARS-CoV-2 within 6-9 weeks. Increased vigilance is warranted to benefit affected individuals and prevent the emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Note:
Funding: This work was supported by the Strategic Health Innovation Partnerships Unit of the South African Medical Research Council, with funds received from the South African Department of Science and Innovation, the Poliomyelitis Research Foundation, and the National Health Laboratory Service Research Trust.

Declaration of Interests: All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Patient Informed Consent Statement: This case report was approved by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Stellenbosch University and the patient provided informed consent

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, uncontrolled HIV infection, immunocompromised, infectious virus, mutations, COVID-19, antiretroviral therapy, persistent infection

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Maponga, Tongai G. and Jeffries, Montenique and Tegally, Houriiyah and Sutherland, Andrew D. and Wilkinson, Eduan and Lessells, Richard and Msomi, Nokukhanya and van Zyl, Gert and de Oliveira, Tulio and Preiser, Wolfgang, Persistent SARS-CoV-2 Infection with Accumulation of Mutations in a Patient with Poorly Controlled HIV Infection (January 21, 2022). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4014499 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4014499