Intrauterine Transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Feb;27(2):638-641. doi: 10.3201/eid2702.203824. Epub 2020 Nov 13.

Abstract

We documented fetal death associated with intrauterine transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. We found chronic histiocytic intervillositis, maternal and fetal vascular malperfusion, microglial hyperplasia, and lymphocytic infiltrate in muscle in the placenta and fetal tissue. Placenta and umbilical cord blood tested positive for the virus by PCR, confirming transplacental transmission.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus disease; Brazil; COVID-19; RT-PCR; SARS-CoV-2; autopsy; congenital transmission; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; diagnosis; intrauterine transmission; placenta; pregnancy; respiratory infections; saliva; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; stillbirth; swabs; testing; upper respiratory swab samples; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19 / transmission*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Female
  • Fetal Death / etiology
  • Fetus / virology
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical*
  • Placenta / virology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / virology*
  • SARS-CoV-2*