TY - JOUR
T1 - Decoding post-mortem infection dynamics of SARS-CoV-2, IAV and RSV
T2 - New insights for public health and emerging infectious diseases management
AU - Chen, Run
AU - Hao, Zeyi
AU - Ye, Jian
AU - Zhao, Xingchun
AU - Hu, Sheng
AU - Luo, Jianliang
AU - Li, Junhua
AU - Wu, Hao
AU - Liang, Xing Gong
AU - Shen, Chen
AU - Deng, Mingyan
AU - Zhang, Wanqing
AU - Zhu, Zhengyang
AU - Qin, Yudong
AU - Hu, Gengwang
AU - Zhang, Letong
AU - Cao, Fan
AU - Liu, Yuzhao
AU - Liu, Ruina
AU - Sun, Qinru
AU - Wei, Hongping
AU - Wang, Zhenyuan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s)
PY - 2025/6
Y1 - 2025/6
N2 - Objectives: The persistence and infectivity of respiratory viruses in cadavers remain poorly characterized, posing significant biosafety risks for forensic and healthcare professionals. This study systematically evaluates the post-mortem stability and transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus (IAV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) under varying environmental conditions, providing critical insights into viral kinetics. Methods: To assess the post-mortem stability of SARS-CoV-2, tissue samples were collected from infected cadavers at 4 ℃, room temperature (RT, 20–22 ℃), and 37 ℃ over a predetermined timeframe. Viral kinetics were analyzed using quantitative assays, while histopathology and immunohistochemistry characterized tissue-specific distribution. Additionally, comparative analyses were conducted both in vitro and in cadaveric tissues to characterize the survival dynamics of IAV and RSV under identical conditions. Results: SARS-CoV-2 exhibited prolonged post-mortem infectivity, persisting for up to 5 days at RT and 37 ℃ and over 7 days at 4 ℃, with the highest risk of transmission occurring within the first 72 h at RT and 24 h at 37 ℃. In contrast, RSV remained viable for 1–2 days, while IAV persisted for only a few hours post-mortem. Viral decay rates were temperature-dependent and varied across tissues, demonstrating distinct post-mortem survival kinetics. Conclusions: This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of viral persistence in cadavers, revealing prolonged SARS-CoV-2 stability compared to IAV and RSV. These findings underscore the need for enhanced post-mortem biosafety protocols to mitigate occupational exposure risks in forensic and clinical settings. By elucidating viral decay dynamics across environmental conditions, this research establishes a critical foundation for infection control strategies, informing biosafety policies for emerging respiratory pathogens.
AB - Objectives: The persistence and infectivity of respiratory viruses in cadavers remain poorly characterized, posing significant biosafety risks for forensic and healthcare professionals. This study systematically evaluates the post-mortem stability and transmission potential of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus (IAV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) under varying environmental conditions, providing critical insights into viral kinetics. Methods: To assess the post-mortem stability of SARS-CoV-2, tissue samples were collected from infected cadavers at 4 ℃, room temperature (RT, 20–22 ℃), and 37 ℃ over a predetermined timeframe. Viral kinetics were analyzed using quantitative assays, while histopathology and immunohistochemistry characterized tissue-specific distribution. Additionally, comparative analyses were conducted both in vitro and in cadaveric tissues to characterize the survival dynamics of IAV and RSV under identical conditions. Results: SARS-CoV-2 exhibited prolonged post-mortem infectivity, persisting for up to 5 days at RT and 37 ℃ and over 7 days at 4 ℃, with the highest risk of transmission occurring within the first 72 h at RT and 24 h at 37 ℃. In contrast, RSV remained viable for 1–2 days, while IAV persisted for only a few hours post-mortem. Viral decay rates were temperature-dependent and varied across tissues, demonstrating distinct post-mortem survival kinetics. Conclusions: This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of viral persistence in cadavers, revealing prolonged SARS-CoV-2 stability compared to IAV and RSV. These findings underscore the need for enhanced post-mortem biosafety protocols to mitigate occupational exposure risks in forensic and clinical settings. By elucidating viral decay dynamics across environmental conditions, this research establishes a critical foundation for infection control strategies, informing biosafety policies for emerging respiratory pathogens.
KW - Emerging infectious diseases management
KW - Epidemiology of respiratory viruses
KW - Forensic pathology
KW - Post-mortem infection kinetics
KW - Spatiotemporal viral distribution
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105003951167
U2 - 10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106489
DO - 10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106489
M3 - 文章
C2 - 40268146
AN - SCOPUS:105003951167
SN - 0163-4453
VL - 90
JO - Journal of Infection
JF - Journal of Infection
IS - 6
M1 - 106489
ER -
可持续发展目标 3 良好健康与福祉