Immunological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy from diagnosis to delivery: a multicentre prospective study

Background: Background Population-based data on SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy and assessment of passive immunity to the neonate, is lacking. We profiled the maternal and fetal response using a combination of viral RNA from naso-pharyngeal swabs and serological assessment of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.Methods: This multicentre prospective observational study was conducted between March 24th and August 31st 2020. Two independent cohorts were established, a symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 cohort and a cohort of asymptomatic pregnant women attending two of the largest maternity hospitals in Europe. Symptomatic women were invited to provide a serum sample to assess antibody responses. Asymptomatic pregnant women provided a nasopharyngeal swab and serum sample. RT-PCR for viral RNA was performed using the Cobas SARS-CoV-2 6800 platform (Roche). Umbilical cord bloods were obtained at delivery. Maternal and fetal serological response was measured using both the Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoassay (Roche), Abbott SARS-CoV-2 IgG Assay and the IgM Architect assay. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants.Results: Ten of twenty three symptomatic women had SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected on nasopharyngeal swabs. Five (5/23, 21.7%) demonstrated serological evidence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and seven (30.4%, 7/23) were positive for IgM antibodies. In the asymptomatic cohort, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in RNA was 0.16% (1/608). IgG SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 1·67% (10/598, 95% CI 0·8%-3·1%) and IgM in 3·51% (21/598, 95% CI 2·3-5·5%). Nine women had repeat testing post the baseline test. Four (4/9, 44%) remained IgM positive and one remained IgG positive. 3 IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detectable in cord bloods from babies born to five seropositive women who delivered during the study. The mean gestation at serological test was 34 weeks. The mean time between maternal serologic positivity and detection in umbilical cord samples was 28 days.Conclusion: Using two independent serological assays, we present a comprehensive illustration of the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy, and show a low prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV2. Transplacental migration of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was identified in cord blood of women who demonstrated antenatal anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, raising the possibility of passive immunity.</p

Table S4 from Snake fungal disease: an emerging threat to wild snakes

Additional samples analyzed by fungal culture to assess the known host range and geographic distribution of Ophidiomyces. Location data is displayed only to the county level due to concerns with disclosing specific locations of rare or sensitive snake populations. The type of growth medium upon which the fungus culture was performed is listed in the last column (DTM = dermatophyte test medium; IMA = inhibitory mold agar; PFA = potato flake agar; SD = Sabouraud's dextrose agar

Table S2 from Snake fungal disease: an emerging threat to wild snakes

Fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) recovered from the skin of snakes. Each unique internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region DNA sequence variant (i.e., 100% identity) was assigned a numerical code and a presumptive taxon identification. The NWHC case number (see table S1) of the host(s) from which each variant was recovered is specified. A representative DNA sequence for each variant has been deposited in GenBank; bolded case numbers depict the snakes from which these deposited fungal DNA sequences originated. The assignment of each ITS variant to an OTU based on cut-offs of 99.5%, 99%, 98%, and 97% sequence identities is shown, with each OTU given an alpha-numeric cod

Table S1 from Snake fungal disease: an emerging threat to wild snakes

Samples used to determine the types of fungi associated with dermatitis in wild snakes. Location data are displayed only to the county (or sometimes state) level due to concerns with disclosing specific locations of rare or sensitive snake populations. Fungal infection was assessed by examining histologic sections of skin lesions. The number of gross lesions consistent with dermatitis were categorized as "none" (no gross skin lesions observed), "single" (one lesion), "multiple" (more than one discrete lesion), or "not assessed" (no information was available on the number of skin lesions present). The type of fungal growth medium upon which samples were cultured is listed as "DTM" (dermatophyte test medium) or "SD" (Sabouraud dextrose medium containing chloramphenicol and gentamycin). The number of unique internal transcribed spacer region DNA sequences identified per snake (or operational taxonomic units [OTUs] at 100% sequence identity) is listed. Samples originating from snakes cited in previous literature are specifie