AUTHOR=Wacharapluesadee Supaporn , Buathong Rome , Iamsirithawon Sopon , Chaifoo Walairat , Ponpinit Teerada , Ruchisrisarod Chanida , Sonpee Chanikarn , Katasrila Panticha , Yomrat Siriporn , Ghai Siriporn , Sirivichayakul Sunee , Okada Pilailuk , Mekha Nanthawan , Karnkawinpong Opart , Uttayamakul Sumonmal , Vachiraphan Apichart , Plipat Tanarak , Hemachudha Thiravat 

TITLE=Identification of a Novel Pathogen Using Family-Wide PCR: Initial Confirmation of COVID-19 in Thailand

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.555013

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2020.555013

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=In resource-limited countries, early detection of novel pathogens is often challenging, due to financial and technical constraints. This study reports the efficacy of family-wide polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in screening, detecting and identifying the initial cases of the novel SARS-CoV-2 in Thailand. Respiratory secretions were collected from suspected individuals travelling from Wuhan, China to Thailand at the beginning of January 2020. Family-wide PCR assays yielded positive results for coronavirus in one traveller within 12 hours on January 8, 2020. Nucleotide sequences (290 bp) showed 100% similarity to SARS-CoV-2. The whole genome sequence was further characterized by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for confirmation. Family-wide PCR was used to detect several initial cases of COVID-19 in Thailand before customized specific primers and probe were available for real-time PCR testing. Combining family-wide PCR, as a rapid screening tool, with NGS, for full genome characterization, could facilitate early detection and confirmation of a novel pathogen and enable early containment of a disease outbreak.