Journal of Clinical Trials
Open Access
ISSN: 2167-0870
ISSN: 2167-0870
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
Research Article
Screening for SARS-CoV-2 Persistence in Long COVID Patients using Sniffer Dogs and Scents from Axillary Sweats Samples
Author(s): Dominique Grandjean, Dominique Salmon*, Dorsaf Slama, Capucine Gallet, Clothilde Julien, Emilie Seyrat, Marc Blondot, Judith Elbaz, Maissa Benazaiez, Friederike Twele and Holger Andreas Volk
Background: Dogs can be trained to identify several substances not detected by humans, corresponding to specific Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOCs). The presence of VOCs, triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection, was tested in sweat from long
COVID patients.
Patients and methods: An axillary sweat sample of long COVID patients and of COVID-19 negative, asymptomatic individuals
was taken at home to avoid any hospital contact. Swabs were randomly placed in olfaction detection cones, and the material
sniffed by at least 2 trained dogs.
Results: Forty-five long COVID patients, mean age 45 (6-71), 73.3% female, with prolonged symptoms evolving for a mean of
15.2 months (5-22) were tested. Dogs discriminated in a positive way 23/45 (51.1%) long COVID patients versus 0/188 (0%)
control healthy individuals (p<.000.. View More»
DOI:
10.35248/2167-0870.22.S16.002