SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Western Romania, March to June 2021
<i>Background and Objectives:</i> The extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection among a population may be assessed by the presence of serum SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, which indicates previous exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the adult popula...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Medicina |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/1/35 |
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| author | Tudor Rares Olariu Alina Cristiana Craciun Daliborca Cristina Vlad Victor Dumitrascu Iosif Marincu Maria Alina Lupu |
| author_facet | Tudor Rares Olariu Alina Cristiana Craciun Daliborca Cristina Vlad Victor Dumitrascu Iosif Marincu Maria Alina Lupu |
| author_sort | Tudor Rares Olariu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives:</i> The extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection among a population may be assessed by the presence of serum SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, which indicates previous exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the adult population from Western Romania. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> Samples of 2443 consecutive individuals, referred for routine laboratory investigations, were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using the Elecsys immunoassay that targets the nucleocapsid protein, for identifying the presence of the total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. <i>Results:</i> The overall SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 45.60%. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was significantly higher in age group 30–49 years (53.94%) compared to age groups 50–69 years (43.53%) and 70–91 years (30.79%) (<i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively). No significant difference in seroprevalence was observed between females (44.83%) and males (47.05%). <i>Conclusions:</i> Our data revealed a high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the adult population from Western Romania and indicate the rapid and significant spread of the virus. The estimated prevalence of 45.60% was 6 times higher than the rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in the study area. This indicates the magnitude of virus transmission in the community. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:00:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3f4c0b28ec1f46419ecc622bb8d8d806 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:00:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-3f4c0b28ec1f46419ecc622bb8d8d8062023-11-23T14:35:51ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442021-12-015813510.3390/medicina58010035SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Western Romania, March to June 2021Tudor Rares Olariu0Alina Cristiana Craciun1Daliborca Cristina Vlad2Victor Dumitrascu3Iosif Marincu4Maria Alina Lupu5Discipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaClinical Laboratory, Municipal Clinical Emergency Teaching Hospital, 300254 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDepartment of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDiscipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaDiscipline of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Disease, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania<i>Background and Objectives:</i> The extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection among a population may be assessed by the presence of serum SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, which indicates previous exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the adult population from Western Romania. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> Samples of 2443 consecutive individuals, referred for routine laboratory investigations, were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using the Elecsys immunoassay that targets the nucleocapsid protein, for identifying the presence of the total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. <i>Results:</i> The overall SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 45.60%. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was significantly higher in age group 30–49 years (53.94%) compared to age groups 50–69 years (43.53%) and 70–91 years (30.79%) (<i>p</i> < 0.001, <i>p</i> < 0.001, respectively). No significant difference in seroprevalence was observed between females (44.83%) and males (47.05%). <i>Conclusions:</i> Our data revealed a high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the adult population from Western Romania and indicate the rapid and significant spread of the virus. The estimated prevalence of 45.60% was 6 times higher than the rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in the study area. This indicates the magnitude of virus transmission in the community.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/1/35SARS-CoV-2antibodiesCOVID-19seroprevalenceepidemiologyRomania |
| spellingShingle | Tudor Rares Olariu Alina Cristiana Craciun Daliborca Cristina Vlad Victor Dumitrascu Iosif Marincu Maria Alina Lupu SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Western Romania, March to June 2021 Medicina SARS-CoV-2 antibodies COVID-19 seroprevalence epidemiology Romania |
| title | SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Western Romania, March to June 2021 |
| title_full | SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Western Romania, March to June 2021 |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Western Romania, March to June 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Western Romania, March to June 2021 |
| title_short | SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Western Romania, March to June 2021 |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 seroprevalence in western romania march to june 2021 |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 antibodies COVID-19 seroprevalence epidemiology Romania |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/58/1/35 |
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