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Gastrointestinal coronavirus disease 2019: epidemiology, clinical features, pathogenesis, prevention, and management.

Simona DeiddaLorena ToraDavide FirinuStefano Del GiaccoMarcello CampagnaFederico MeloniGermano OrrùLuchino ChessaMauro Giovanni CartaAlessandra MelisGaya SpolveratoRoberto LitteraAndrea PerraSimona OnaliLuigi ZorcoloAngelo Restivo
Published in: Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology (2020)
Different clues point to direct virus infection and replication in mucosal cells of the gastrointestinal tract. In vitro studies showed that SARS-CoV-2 could enter into the gastrointestinal epithelial cells by the Angiotensin-Converting enzyme two membrane receptor. These findings, coupled with the identification of viral RNA found in stools of patients, clearly suggest that direct involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is very likely. This can justify most of the gastrointestinal symptoms but also suggest a risk for an oral-fecal route for transmission, additionally or alternatively to the main respiratory route.
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