Scientists are studying a possible association between the virus and the gastrointestinal symptoms, long after the initial infection with coronavirus infection.

Two teams have recently published results of their studies suggesting that pieces of SARS-CoV-2 can stay in the gut for months after initial infection.

This further strengthens the growing body of evidence that supports the hypothesis that persistent pieces of virus referred to as coronavirus “ghosts” may contribute to the symptoms of long COVID.

Long COVID is well-defined as symptoms that stay beyond 12 weeks after an acute infection. More than 200 symptoms are related with the disorder, ranging in severity from mild to incapacitating.

Other studies have also suggested lingering viral reservoirs existing in the body in places other than the gut. Studies have detected viral RNA and protein up to 230 days after the infection. All these studies point out towards the possibility that long-term viral reservoirs cause the symptoms of long COVID.