Typhoid Marys?

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   I don't know a lot about viruses. I know this new COVID-19 is a corona virus. I'm  wondering how much different corona viruses have in common. Are there specific traits that are shared among corona viruses? 

One of our cats is infected feline corona virus (very different than COVID-19 and it's nothing new - feline corona virus has existed for ages). Our veterinarian advised us to keep her away from other cats because even if she is not sick enough to develop FIP she still sheds the virus in her feces (and it's impossible to know which cats will be asymptomatic and which will get deadly illness and be dead within months). Luckily for our cat, she is asymptomatic and has been for years. But she's a Typhoid Mary. We have another cat which is corona virus negative and we do not let them in the same room. They each have their own part of the house and their own litter boxes. This is for the lifetime of our infected cat. Our two cats can NEVER be together. 

I recently saw an article that China is now going to quarantine COVID-19 recovered patients because they can still infect others. It made me think about our cat and wonder if the COVID-19 corona virus could be similar. Is it possible that people could end up lifetime shedders of this virus? Are they going to be Typhoid Marys?

I hope the answer is no. 

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socalmom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: January 29 2020 Location: S. California Status: Offline Points: 900	Post Options Post Reply Quote socalmom Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Topic: Typhoid Marys? Posted: February 23 2020 at 10:28pm
	I don't know a lot about viruses. I know this new COVID-19 is a corona virus. I'm wondering how much different corona viruses have in common. Are there specific traits that are shared among corona viruses? One of our cats is infected feline corona virus (very different than COVID-19 and it's nothing new - feline corona virus has existed for ages). Our veterinarian advised us to keep her away from other cats because even if she is not sick enough to develop FIP she still sheds the virus in her feces (and it's impossible to know which cats will be asymptomatic and which will get deadly illness and be dead within months). Luckily for our cat, she is asymptomatic and has been for years. But she's a Typhoid Mary. We have another cat which is corona virus negative and we do not let them in the same room. They each have their own part of the house and their own litter boxes. This is for the lifetime of our infected cat. Our two cats can NEVER be together. I recently saw an article that China is now going to quarantine COVID-19 recovered patients because they can still infect others. It made me think about our cat and wonder if the COVID-19 corona virus could be similar. Is it possible that people could end up lifetime shedders of this virus? Are they going to be Typhoid Marys? I hope the answer is no.

Technophobe Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Assistant Admin Joined: January 16 2014 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 88450	Post Options Post Reply Quote Technophobe Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 24 2020 at 6:04am
	Oh boy! I am not a virologist. But coronaviruses are fairly simple things. They have a single strand of RNA inside a protein envelope and the protein envelope has knobs on the surface which stick to cell receptors in the host. The knobs on the surface are called epitopes and our antibodies, perfectly matched to stick to them are called paratopes. In theory, once you have had a virus or its vaccine you make enough paratopes for life to ensure you can never get sick with it again. A few clever viruses change their coat of epitopes occasionally and you get a new strain of the virus which your prior immunity does not work for. A few more have the ability to hide and come back later. (Like my recent bout of shingles! ) Now, most coronaviruses are related. As far as I know, they share most of the nomenclature tree* in taxonomy. So they probably DO share most traits. Wether or not they share this one is yet to be seen. But, based on China's reaction - probably YES! Great point! TRULY GREAT POINT!! Sadly worrying. *https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxonomic_rank https://viralzone.expasy.org/30?outline=all_by_species
	How do you tell if a politician is lying? His lips or pen are moving.

socalmom Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List V.I.P. Member Joined: January 29 2020 Location: S. California Status: Offline Points: 900	Post Options Post Reply Quote socalmom Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 24 2020 at 7:23am
	I truly hope it doesn't share the same trait. Also, for feline corona virus... infection does not convey immunity and they have not had much luck with a vaccine for it. I hope that these traits are also not shared.

Technophobe Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Assistant Admin Joined: January 16 2014 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 88450	Post Options Post Reply Quote Technophobe Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 24 2020 at 7:43am
	My guess would be that you do develop some immunity, but it does not last. It is also possible that the virus does the hiding trick. Coronaviruses occasionally have a third nasty trick. They tunnel between cells to infect, avoiding the inter-cellular fluids where the monoclonal antibodies (the attack cells with the paratope) lurk waiting for them. (A way of visualising this is using the channel tunnel to take your troops to France avoiding U-boats in the channel. - Yes historians, I know they were decades apart, but the analogy works.)
	How do you tell if a politician is lying? His lips or pen are moving.

carbon20 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Joined: April 08 2006 Location: West Australia Status: Offline Points: 65816	Post Options Post Reply Quote carbon20 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 24 2020 at 12:59pm
	Great explanation,Technophobe , you may not be a virologist, But an educator you are....... Maybe an up date to Mr Spock guiding Enterprise through a Romulin sensor field before the scan you and send their Cloaked birds of prey to get you....(I'm a Trekkie) Do you remember" Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
	Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.🖖 Marcus Aurelius

Technophobe Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Assistant Admin Joined: January 16 2014 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 88450	Post Options Post Reply Quote Technophobe Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 24 2020 at 2:25pm
	Live long and prosper! 🖖🏻
	How do you tell if a politician is lying? His lips or pen are moving.