Yet other researchers have come to conclusions similar to the one we published on March 161 in a paper published on June 23, 2020.2 The “Results” of their “discussion paper” read:
“Oral viral load of SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with the severity of COVID-19, and thus, a reduction in the oral viral load could be associated with a decrease in the severity of the condition. Similarly, a decrease in the oral viral load would diminish the amount of virus expelled and reduce the risk of transmission, since (i) during the first 10 days, the virus mainly accumulates at the nasal, oral, and pharyngeal area; (ii) the number of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) receptor is greater in the salivary glands as compared with the lungs; and (iii) salivary droplets represent the most relevant transmission route. To reduce the oral viral load, antiseptic agents may be used, although the evidence on its efficacy is indirect and weak.“
A group of researchers from Italy has seemingly tested part of the hypothesis, with a stated focus on viral transmission prevention, in a “pilot study” of at least 39 asymptomatic virus carriers in vivo.3 Their results, obtained with yet other virucidals than those mentioned by us, as well as their deliberations based on their own results and the available literature, may appear to support loico’s initial idea. We see several reasons for caution with regard to the study design, however, where exact procedures observed would need significant further clarification. Specifically, the authors do not discuss why they believed that establishing a control group was not necessary, and what probability they assigned, and why, to the asymptomatic carriers being tested negative anyway after the three days during which they were required to apply oral antisepsis.
Similar to the authors cited above, the potential for a role in individual health preservation is expressly considered in the “Results”:
“Prevention of inner spread. It is also possible to consider that from the saliva (with its high viral content) while the mouth is acting as a viral growing chamber, the viral particles may be aerosolized into the lungs. The containment of viral growth in the mouth may also halt the spreading of the virus from the mouth to the trachea and into the bronchial tree.“
_____- See https://loico.com/the-logic-of-surviving-the-coronavirus-pandemic/; https://loico.com/additional-thoughts-regarding-benefit-throat-disinfection-covid-19-like-epidemics/; https://loico.com/international-researchers-pick-up-loicos-idea-of-throat-disinfection-to-counter-covid-19/; https://loico.com/update-on-preventive-throat-disinfection-antisepsis-to-counter-covid-19/; https://loico.com/some-additional-comments-on-the-design-of-the-study-conducted-by-the-university-of-kentucky/[↩]
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00784-020-03413-2[↩]
- https://medclinres.org/pdfs/2020/virucidals-control-the-presence-of-covid-in-mouth-saliva-mcr-20.pdf[↩]