Serological and molecular findings during SARS-CoV-2 infection: the first case study in Finland, January to February 2020

Anu Haveri; Teemu Smura; Suvi Kuivanen; Pamela Österlund; Jussi Hepojoki; Niina Ikonen; Marjaana Pitkäpaasi; Soile Blomqvist; Esa Rönkkö; Anu Kantele; Tomas Strandin; Hannimari Kallio-Kokko; Laura Mannonen; Maija Lappalainen; Markku Broas; Miao Jiang; Lotta Siira; Mika Salminen; Taneli Puumalainen; Jussi Sane; Merit Melin; Olli Vapalahti; Carita Savolainen-Kopra

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.11.2000266

Serological and molecular findings during SARS-CoV-2 infection: the first case study in Finland, January to February 2020

Euro Surveill. 2020 Mar;25(11):2000266. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.11.2000266.

Authors

Anu Haveri¹, Teemu Smura², Suvi Kuivanen², Pamela Österlund¹, Jussi Hepojoki^{2

3}, Niina Ikonen¹, Marjaana Pitkäpaasi¹, Soile Blomqvist¹, Esa Rönkkö¹, Anu Kantele⁴, Tomas Strandin², Hannimari Kallio-Kokko⁵, Laura Mannonen⁵, Maija Lappalainen⁵, Markku Broas⁶, Miao Jiang^{1

7}, Lotta Siira¹, Mika Salminen¹, Taneli Puumalainen¹, Jussi Sane¹, Merit Melin¹, Olli Vapalahti^{2

5}, Carita Savolainen-Kopra¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
² University of Helsinki, Medicum, Department of Virology, Helsinki, Finland.
³ Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
⁴ Inflammation Center, Infectious Diseases, Helsinki University Hospital (HUSLAB) and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
⁵ Department of Virology and Immunology, Helsinki University Hospital (HUSLAB) and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
⁶ Infection-Hospital Hygiene Unit, Lapland Central Hospital, Rovaniemi, Finland.
⁷ Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

PMID: 32209163
PMCID: PMC7096774
DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.11.2000266

Abstract

The first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Finland was confirmed on 29 January 2020. No secondary cases were detected. We describe the clinical picture and laboratory findings 3-23 days since the first symptoms. The SARS-CoV-2/Finland/1/2020 virus strain was isolated, the genome showing a single nucleotide substitution to the reference strain from Wuhan. Neutralising antibody response appeared within 9 days along with specific IgM and IgG response, targeting particularly nucleocapsid and spike proteins.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; antibodies; coronavirus; humoral immunity; immunofluorescence assay; microneutralisation test; western blotting; whole-genome sequencing.

MeSH terms

Adult
Antibodies, Viral / blood
Asymptomatic Infections
Betacoronavirus
COVID-19
COVID-19 Testing
China
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
Contact Tracing*
Coronavirus / genetics*
Coronavirus / immunology
Coronavirus / isolation & purification*
Coronavirus Infections* / diagnosis
Coronavirus Infections* / transmission
Coronavirus Infections* / virology
Female
Finland
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Humans
Immunoglobulin A / blood
Immunoglobulin G / blood
Immunoglobulin M / blood
Neutralization Tests
Pandemics*
Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnosis
Pneumonia, Viral* / transmission
Pneumonia, Viral* / virology
SARS-CoV-2
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / etiology
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / immunology*
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / virology
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / immunology*
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / pathogenicity
Travel*
Viral Envelope Proteins

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
Immunoglobulin A
Immunoglobulin G
Immunoglobulin M
Viral Envelope Proteins