The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within the community of a private tertiary university in the Philippines: A serial cross sectional study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a public health emergency in all sectors of society, including universities and other academic institutions. This study determined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among administrators, faculty, staff, and students of a private tertiary academic institutio...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lourdes Bernadette C Sumpaico-Tanchanco, Jenica Clarisse Y Sy, Angel Belle C Dy, Myla Levantino, Arianna Maever L Amit, John Wong, Kirsten Angeles, John Paul C Vergara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268145
_version_ 1797958114917482496
author Lourdes Bernadette C Sumpaico-Tanchanco
Jenica Clarisse Y Sy
Angel Belle C Dy
Myla Levantino
Arianna Maever L Amit
John Wong
Kirsten Angeles
John Paul C Vergara
author_facet Lourdes Bernadette C Sumpaico-Tanchanco
Jenica Clarisse Y Sy
Angel Belle C Dy
Myla Levantino
Arianna Maever L Amit
John Wong
Kirsten Angeles
John Paul C Vergara
author_sort Lourdes Bernadette C Sumpaico-Tanchanco
collection DOAJ
description The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a public health emergency in all sectors of society, including universities and other academic institutions. This study determined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among administrators, faculty, staff, and students of a private tertiary academic institution in the Philippines over a 7 month period. It employed a serial cross-sectional method using qualitative and quantitative COVID-19 antibody test kits. A total of 1,318 participants were tested, showing 47.80% of the study population yielding IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 virus. A general increase in seroprevalence was observed from June to December 2021, which coincided with the vaccine roll-out of the country. All brands yielded positive antibody formation, with mRNA vaccines having higher levels than other types of vaccines. A decreasing trend in IgG reactivity was found in vaccinated individuals after 1 to 6 months of completion of the 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Where possible, IgG and T-cell reactivity and/or neutralizing capacity against SAR-CoV-2 need to be monitored regardless of vaccine brand. Together with uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, other public health interventions such as wearing of masks and regular testing need to be continued for better protection. Effective communication is also needed to inform risks associated with activities across different settings. Investments in long-term measures such as air filtration and ventilation systems, and wastewater surveillance need to be made.
first_indexed 2024-04-11T00:14:13Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5c6a0bbbd64f41b88b9db7c2e7888e07
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-11T00:14:13Z
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-5c6a0bbbd64f41b88b9db7c2e7888e072023-01-09T05:30:57ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-011712e026814510.1371/journal.pone.0268145The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within the community of a private tertiary university in the Philippines: A serial cross sectional study.Lourdes Bernadette C Sumpaico-TanchancoJenica Clarisse Y SyAngel Belle C DyMyla LevantinoArianna Maever L AmitJohn WongKirsten AngelesJohn Paul C VergaraThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused a public health emergency in all sectors of society, including universities and other academic institutions. This study determined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among administrators, faculty, staff, and students of a private tertiary academic institution in the Philippines over a 7 month period. It employed a serial cross-sectional method using qualitative and quantitative COVID-19 antibody test kits. A total of 1,318 participants were tested, showing 47.80% of the study population yielding IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 virus. A general increase in seroprevalence was observed from June to December 2021, which coincided with the vaccine roll-out of the country. All brands yielded positive antibody formation, with mRNA vaccines having higher levels than other types of vaccines. A decreasing trend in IgG reactivity was found in vaccinated individuals after 1 to 6 months of completion of the 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Where possible, IgG and T-cell reactivity and/or neutralizing capacity against SAR-CoV-2 need to be monitored regardless of vaccine brand. Together with uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, other public health interventions such as wearing of masks and regular testing need to be continued for better protection. Effective communication is also needed to inform risks associated with activities across different settings. Investments in long-term measures such as air filtration and ventilation systems, and wastewater surveillance need to be made.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268145
spellingShingle Lourdes Bernadette C Sumpaico-Tanchanco
Jenica Clarisse Y Sy
Angel Belle C Dy
Myla Levantino
Arianna Maever L Amit
John Wong
Kirsten Angeles
John Paul C Vergara
The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within the community of a private tertiary university in the Philippines: A serial cross sectional study.
PLoS ONE
title The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within the community of a private tertiary university in the Philippines: A serial cross sectional study.
title_full The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within the community of a private tertiary university in the Philippines: A serial cross sectional study.
title_fullStr The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within the community of a private tertiary university in the Philippines: A serial cross sectional study.
title_full_unstemmed The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within the community of a private tertiary university in the Philippines: A serial cross sectional study.
title_short The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies within the community of a private tertiary university in the Philippines: A serial cross sectional study.
title_sort prevalence of sars cov 2 antibodies within the community of a private tertiary university in the philippines a serial cross sectional study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268145
work_keys_str_mv AT lourdesbernadettecsumpaicotanchanco theprevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT jenicaclarisseysy theprevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT angelbellecdy theprevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT mylalevantino theprevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT ariannamaeverlamit theprevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT johnwong theprevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT kirstenangeles theprevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT johnpaulcvergara theprevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT lourdesbernadettecsumpaicotanchanco prevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT jenicaclarisseysy prevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT angelbellecdy prevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT mylalevantino prevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT ariannamaeverlamit prevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT johnwong prevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT kirstenangeles prevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy
AT johnpaulcvergara prevalenceofsarscov2antibodieswithinthecommunityofaprivatetertiaryuniversityinthephilippinesaserialcrosssectionalstudy