Post-mortem diagnosis of human rabies in SARS-CoV-2 coinfected patient with minimally invasive autopsy in northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: Human rabies (HR) is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by lyssaviruses with increase in the number of cases post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methodology: We report a case of human rabies in a patient from a rural area of Ceará, northeastern Brazil in 2023, who was bitten by a white-tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix jacchus jacchus). The patient was co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and was diagnosed by minimally invasive autopsy (MIA). Results: MIA offers many advantages related to biosafety, and speed of sample acquisition; and markedly reduces disfigurement of the body compared with complete autopsy. It is a great alternative in COVID-19 patients. Conclusions: New methods such as MIA are a promising tool for diagnosis, and have the potential to improve family cooperation and support rabies surveillance.