The UEES in collaboration with the USFQ have sequenced so far 14 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Guayaquil, of which two samples belong to the same patient and there was suspicion of a possible re-infection.
The first infection was detected on April 7, 2020 presenting a clinical picture with mild symptoms, in May a second PCR was performed and the result was negative. After more than three months the patient presented severe symptoms of COVID- 19 and this was confirmed by PCR-RT on the 14th of 2020.
After the studies carried out with the biological samples and after the viral genome sequencing process of the two samples that were positive by PCR-RT, it was determined that it is the same viral strain and that it presents variations in two nucleotides.
These results do not allow us to conclude that it is a reinfection, since more scientific evidence is needed, nor can we rule out that it is a process of persistence of the virus in its host. This finding opens more questions as to whether after a first exposure to SARS-CoV-2 we can generate a long-lasting immune defense. .
