ISSN: 2167-0870
Department of Veterinary Science, University of Paris, Paris, France
 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