Differential Infectivity of Original and Delta Variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Children Compared to Adults.

ABSTRACT: Although children of all ages are susceptible to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, they have not been implicated as major drivers of transmission thus far. However, it is still unknown if this finding holds true with new variants of concern (VOC), such as Delta (B.1.617.2). This study aimed to examine differences in both viral RNA (as measured by cycle threshold [C_T]) and viable-virus levels from children infected with Delta and those infected with original variants (OV). Furthermore, we aimed to compare the pediatric population infection trends to those in adults. We obtained 690 SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive nasopharyngeal swabs from across Manitoba, Canada, which were further screened for mutations characteristic of VOC. Aliquots of s

SUBMITTER: Garnett L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9602606 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature