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Barros Ferreira N, Pereira H, Pereira AM, Azevedo LF, Santos M, Maranhão P, Correia R, Fonseca JA, Canedo P, da Costa Pereira A, Sousa-Pinto B. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and assessment of epidemiologic determinants in Portuguese municipal workers. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2022; 35:297-307. [PMID: 35142298 PMCID: PMC10464733 DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in municipal employees of Northern Portugal during the first pandemic wave (May-June 2020) and its association with potentially related risk factors for infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS The authors assessed municipal employees of 2 cities in Northern Portugal, in whom serological tests to SARS-CoV-2 and an epidemiological survey were applied. The authors assessed the proportion of individuals presenting IgM and/or IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, and evaluated the association between having positive serological test results, epidemiologic variables and clinical presentations. Reported symptoms were evaluated on their sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. RESULTS The authors assessed 1696 employees, of whom 22.0% were firefighters, 10.4% were police officers, 10.3% were maintenance workers, and 8.1% were administrative assistants. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 2.9% (95% CI: 2.1-3.7%). Administrative assistants comprised the professional group with highest seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 1.9 in the comparison with other occupational groups, 95% CI: 0.8-4.3, p = 0.126). The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among those who were in direct contact with COVID-19 patients in their professional activity was 3.9%, compared to 2.7% among those who were not in direct contact with such patients (OR = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.8-2.8, p = 0.222). The highest risk of infection was associated with the presence of a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the household (OR = 17.4, 95% CI: 8.3-36.8, p < 0.001). Living with a healthcare professional was not associated with a higher risk of infection (OR = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.4-2.5, p = 0.934). Anosmia/ dysgeusia was the symptom with the highest positive predictive value (52.2%, 95% CI: 31.8-72.6, p < 0.001) and specificity (99.3%, 95% CI: 98.9-99.7, p < 0.001), while cough was the most prevalent symptom among SARS-CoV-2 seropositive participants (36%). CONCLUSIONS The authors observed a SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 2.9% among assessed municipal employees. Anosmia/dysgeusia was the COVID-19 symptom which displayed the highest positive predictive value and specificity. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(3):297-307.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helena Pereira
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (Faculty of Medicine)
| | - Ana Margarida Pereira
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (MEDCIDS - Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine)
- CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Filipe Azevedo
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (MEDCIDS - Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine)
- CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Santos
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (MEDCIDS - Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine)
- CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal
| | - Priscila Maranhão
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (MEDCIDS - Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine)
- CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Correia
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (MEDCIDS - Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine)
- CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Almeida Fonseca
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (MEDCIDS - Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine)
- CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal
| | - Paulo Canedo
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology)
| | - Altamiro da Costa Pereira
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (Faculty of Medicine)
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (MEDCIDS - Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine)
- CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal
| | - Bernardo Sousa-Pinto
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (Faculty of Medicine)
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (MEDCIDS - Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences, Faculty of Medicine)
- CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Porto, Portugal
- University of Porto, Porto, Portugal (Basic and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine)
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Schultz JS, McCarthy MK, Rester C, Sabourin KR, Annen K, DomBourian M, Eisenmesser E, Frazer-Abel A, Knight V, Jaenisch T, Morrison TE, Rochford R, Kedl RM. Development and Validation of a Multiplex Microsphere Immunoassay Using Dried Blood Spots for SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence: Application in First Responders in Colorado, USA. J Clin Microbiol 2021; 59. [PMID: 33795412 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00290-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Serological testing of large representative populations for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 is needed to estimate seroprevalence, transmission dynamics, and the duration of antibody responses from natural infection and vaccination. In this study, a high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 multiplex microsphere immunoassay (MMIA) was developed for the receptor binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid (N) that was more sensitive than enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (98% versus 87%). The MMIA was then applied and validated in 264 first responders in Colorado using serum and dried blood spot (DBS) eluates, compared to ELISA, and evaluated for neutralizing antibodies. Four percent (11/264) of first responders were seropositive in July to August 2020. Serum and DBS were highly correlated for anti-RBD and anti-N antibodies (R = 0.83, P < 0.0001 and R = 0.87, P < 0.0001, respectively) by MMIA. The MMIA accurately predicted SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies using DBS (R = 0.76, P = 0.037). On repeat antibody testing 3 months later, anti-RBD IgG decreased less rapidly than anti-N IgG measured by MMIA, with a median change in geometric median fluorescence intensity of 62% versus 79% (P < 0.01) for anti-RBD and anti-N IgG, respectively. This novel MMIA using DBS could be scalable for rapid and affordable SARS-CoV-2 serosurveillance in the United States and globally.
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