Shared Food, Meals and Drinks: 10 Arguments Suggesting an Oral Transmission Route of SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

: Numerous observational, epidemiologic data have suggested that the risk of COVID19 is related to shared meals or drinks. The presence of ACE2 receptors in the gastrointestinal tract supports this hypothesis. Furthermore, several patients experience gastrointestinal symptoms without any respiratory disease. The SARS-CoV-2 found on food and packaging in China and the epidemic resurgence attributed to foods are also strong indications of an oral transmission route. Unprecedented biopersistence on skin, food, and beverages supports this theory. Finally, animal models reproducing the disease by oral inoculation are additional arguments in favor of an oro-digestive route of infection.

Control of CDH1/E-Cadherin Gene Expression and Release of a Soluble Form of E-Cadherin in SARS-CoV-2 Infected Caco-2 Intestinal Cells: Physiopathological Consequences for the Intestinal Forms of COVID-19

“…The process by which SARS-CoV-2 reaches the intestine is not yet clear and could occur either by the bloodstream (with or without a hepatic stage) or by the oral-intestinal route (from the trachea to the esophagus and intestine). The potential role of the oral-intestinal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is currently considered as likely ( Brogna et al., 2022 ; Heneghan et al., 2021 ; Meng and Liang, 2021 ; Wendling et al., 2021 ; Dergham et al., 2021 ). SARS-CoV-2 replication in the GIT is associated with modulation in the diversity of bacterial species ( Dhar and Mohanty, 2020 ; Gu S. et al., 2020 ; Gu J. et al., 2020 ; Zuo et al., 2020 ).…”