Virological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in an Italian Northern area: differences in gender, age and Real Time RT PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values in three epidemic periods.

Mostafa Mohieldin Mahgoub Ibrahim; Maria Eugenia  Colucci; Licia  Veronesi; Isabella  Viani; Anna  Odone; Mattia Pia  Arena; Monia  Incerti; Elisa  Tamburini; Roberta  Zoni; Cesira  Pasquarella; Paola  Affanni

doi:10.23750/abm.v92iS6.12268

Virological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in an Italian Northern area: differences in gender, age and Real Time RT PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values in three epidemic periods.

Authors

Mostafa Mohieldin Mahgoub Ibrahim Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8747-1195
Maria Eugenia Colucci Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4971-594X
Licia Veronesi Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5399-2934
Isabella Viani Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
Anna Odone Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5657-9774
Mattia Pia Arena Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2027-7344
Monia Incerti Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
Elisa Tamburini Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
Roberta Zoni Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy
Cesira Pasquarella Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1566-3854
Paola Affanni Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7329-9248

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v92iS6.12268

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, age, gender, Real Time RT PCR, Cycle threshold (Ct) values

Abstract

Background and aim of the work: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global public health emergency. The aim of this study was to investigate cases characteristics and Real Time RT PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values distribution of COVID-19 in an Italian Northern area during three periods: first period, February-May 2020; second period, June-August 2020; third period, September 2020-February 2021. Methods: Real Time RT PCR was used to detect SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory samples (oro/nasopharyngeal swabs). Results: A total of 254,744 samples were tested during the study period. Out of 20,188 positive samples (7.92%), 10,303 were females (51.04%) and 9,885 were males (48.96%). The percentage of positivity varied during the three different periods: 14.1% in the first period, 1.4% in the second and 9.2% in the third. The lowest Ct values were observed in the first phase of pandemic, with an overall average of 25.64. Overall average of the Ct values was lower in males than in females, 26.29 ± 6.04 and 26.84 ± 5.99 respectively. The oldest patients recorded lower Ct values. Conclusions: The findings of our study represent further evidence in support of the fact that male sex and older age showed lower Ct values, which means higher viral loads and higher infectious potential. These knowledges are useful to better understand the epidemiological aspects of COVID-19 and to perform effective Public Health Policies.

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