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Screening for SARS-CoV-2 Persistence in Long COVID Patients using Sniffer Dogs and Scents from Axillary Sweats Samples

Dominique Grandjean, Dominique Salmon, Dorsaf Slama, Capucine Gallet, Clothilde Julien, Emilie Seyrat, Marc Blondot, Judith Elbaz, Maissa Benazaiez, Friederike Twele, 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<.0001).

Conclusion: Our data provide arguments for the persistence of viral antigens at least in some long COVID patients and raise the possibility of future therapeutic options.