Substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 RNA after fixation of
cadavers intended for anatomical dissection

J 2023

Substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 RNA after fixation of cadavers intended for anatomical dissection

VYMAZALOVÁ, Kateřina, Omar ŠERÝ, Petr KRÁLÍK, Radka DZIEDZINSKÁ, Zuzana MUSILOVÁ et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 RNA after fixation of cadavers intended for anatomical dissection

Authors

VYMAZALOVÁ, Kateřina (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Omar ŠERÝ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Petr KRÁLÍK (203 Czech Republic), Radka DZIEDZINSKÁ (203 Czech Republic), Zuzana MUSILOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jan FRIŠHONS (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Tomáš VOJTÍŠEK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Marek JOUKAL (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Anatomical Science International, NEW YORK, SPRINGER, 2023, 1447-6959

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30106 Anatomy and morphology

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.200 in 2022

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/23:00130424

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12565-023-00707-9

UT WoS

000943330200001

Keywords in English

Embalming; Dissection; Infections; Coronavirus; Polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

V originále

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a problem arose with classic body donation programmes for obtaining cadavers for anatomical dissections, science and research. The question has emerged whether bodies of individuals who died of COVID-19 or were infected by SARS-CoV-2 could be admitted to Departments of Anatomy. To determine the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to employees or students, the presence and stability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cadavers after fixation agents’ application and subsequent post-fixation baths over time were examined. The presence of viral RNA in swabs from selected tissues was assessed by the standardized routine RNA isolation protocol and subsequent real-time PCR analysis. To support the results obtained from the tissue swabs, samples of RNA were exposed in vitro to short and long-term exposure to the components of the injection and fixation solutions used for the bodies’ conservation. Substantial removal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed in post-mortem tissue following perfusion with 3.5% phenol, 2.2% formaldehyde, 11.8% glycerol and 55% ethanol, and subsequent post-fixation in an ethanol bath. In vitro experiments showed significant effects of formaldehyde on SARS-CoV-2 RNA, while phenol and ethanol showed only negligible effects. We conclude that cadavers subjected to fixation protocols as described here should not pose a considerable risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection while being handled by students and staff and are, therefore, suitable for routine anatomical dissections and teaching.

Citovat

VYMAZALOVÁ, Kateřina, Omar ŠERÝ, Petr KRÁLÍK, Radka DZIEDZINSKÁ, Zuzana MUSILOVÁ, Jan FRIŠHONS, Tomáš VOJTÍŠEK and Marek JOUKAL. Substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 RNA after fixation of cadavers intended for anatomical dissection. Anatomical Science International. NEW YORK: SPRINGER, 2023, vol. 98, No 3, p. 441-447. ISSN 1447-6959. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12565-023-00707-9.

@article{2266098,
   author = {Vymazalová, Kateřina and Šerý, Omar and Králík, Petr and Dziedzinská, Radka and Musilová, Zuzana and Frišhons, Jan and Vojtíšek, Tomáš and Joukal, Marek},
   article_location = {NEW YORK},
   article_number = {3},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12565-023-00707-9},
   keywords = {Embalming; Dissection; Infections; Coronavirus; Polymerase chain reaction},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1447-6959},
   journal = {Anatomical Science International},
   title = {Substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 RNA after fixation of cadavers intended for anatomical dissection},
   url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12565-023-00707-9},
   volume = {98},
   year = {2023}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2266098
AU  - Vymazalová, Kateřina - Šerý, Omar - Králík, Petr - Dziedzinská, Radka - Musilová, Zuzana - Frišhons, Jan - Vojtíšek, Tomáš - Joukal, Marek
PY  - 2023
TI  - Substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 RNA after fixation of cadavers intended for anatomical dissection
JF  - Anatomical Science International
VL  - 98
IS  - 3
SP  - 441-447
EP  - 441-447
PB  - SPRINGER
SN  - 14476959
KW  - Embalming
KW  - Dissection
KW  - Infections
KW  - Coronavirus
KW  - Polymerase chain reaction
UR  - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12565-023-00707-9
N2  - With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a problem arose with classic body donation programmes for obtaining cadavers for anatomical dissections, science and research. The question has emerged whether bodies of individuals who died of COVID-19 or were infected by SARS-CoV-2 could be admitted to Departments of Anatomy. To determine the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to employees or students, the presence and stability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in cadavers after fixation agents’ application and subsequent post-fixation baths over time were examined. The presence of viral RNA in swabs from selected tissues was assessed by the standardized routine RNA isolation protocol and subsequent real-time PCR analysis. To support the results obtained from the tissue swabs, samples of RNA were exposed in vitro to short and long-term exposure to the components of the injection and fixation solutions used for the bodies’ conservation. Substantial removal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was observed in post-mortem tissue following perfusion with 3.5% phenol, 2.2% formaldehyde, 11.8% glycerol and 55% ethanol, and subsequent post-fixation in an ethanol bath. In vitro experiments showed significant effects of formaldehyde on SARS-CoV-2 RNA, while phenol and ethanol showed only negligible effects. We conclude that cadavers subjected to fixation protocols as described here should not pose a considerable risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection while being handled by students and staff and are, therefore, suitable for routine anatomical dissections and teaching.
ER  -

VYMAZALOVÁ, Kateřina, Omar ŠERÝ, Petr KRÁLÍK, Radka DZIEDZINSKÁ, Zuzana MUSILOVÁ, Jan FRIŠHONS, Tomáš VOJTÍŠEK and Marek JOUKAL. Substantial decrease in SARS-CoV-2 RNA after fixation of cadavers intended for anatomical dissection. \textit{Anatomical Science International}. NEW YORK: SPRINGER, 2023, vol.~98, No~3, p.~441-447. ISSN~1447-6959. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12565-023-00707-9.

Detailed Information on Publication Record