SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian Population
Background: Since December 2019 the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the center of global attention due to its rapid transmission and toll on health care systems and global economy. Population-based serosurveys measuring antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 provide one method for estimating previous infection...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.632942/full |
| _version_ | 1818612478222794752 |
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| author | Dennis Ladage Dennis Ladage Dennis Ladage Yana Höglinger Yana Höglinger Dorothee Ladage Christoph Adler Christoph Adler Christoph Adler Israfil Yalcin Oliver Harzer Oliver Harzer Ralf J. Braun |
| author_facet | Dennis Ladage Dennis Ladage Dennis Ladage Yana Höglinger Yana Höglinger Dorothee Ladage Christoph Adler Christoph Adler Christoph Adler Israfil Yalcin Oliver Harzer Oliver Harzer Ralf J. Braun |
| author_sort | Dennis Ladage |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Since December 2019 the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the center of global attention due to its rapid transmission and toll on health care systems and global economy. Population-based serosurveys measuring antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 provide one method for estimating previous infection rates including the symptom-free courses of the disease and monitoring the progression of the epidemic.Methods: In June 2020 we succeeded in testing almost half of the population of an Austrian township (1,359 inhabitants) with a reported higher incidence for COVID-19 infections (17 PCR positive cases have been officially reported until the date of sample collection, i.e., 1.2% of the total population). We determined the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in this population, factors affecting, and symptoms correlated with prior infection. Antibodies were determined using a CE-certified quality-controlled ELISA test for SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgA antibodies.Results: We found a high prevalence of 9% positive antibodies among the town population in comparison to 6% of the neighboring villages. This was considerably higher than the officially known RT-PCR-approved COVID-19 cases (1.2%) in the town population. Twenty percent of SARS-CoV-2-antibody positive cases declared being asymptomatic in a questionnaire. On the other hand, we identified six single major symptoms, including anosmia/ageusia, weight loss, anorexia, general debility, dyspnea, and fever, and especially their combination to be of high prognostic value for predicting SARS-CoV-2 infection in a patient.Conclusions: This population study demonstrated a high prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 as a marker of past infections in an Austrian township. Several symptoms revealed a diagnostic value especially in combination. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:46:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a5d3dcf80a36499496674b25f5a99d35 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:46:51Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-a5d3dcf80a36499496674b25f5a99d352022-12-21T22:25:47ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2021-05-01810.3389/fmed.2021.632942632942SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian PopulationDennis Ladage0Dennis Ladage1Dennis Ladage2Yana Höglinger3Yana Höglinger4Dorothee Ladage5Christoph Adler6Christoph Adler7Christoph Adler8Israfil Yalcin9Oliver Harzer10Oliver Harzer11Ralf J. Braun12Department of Internal Medicine, Danube Private University, Krems/Donau, AustriaHeart Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Pneumology, Kliniken Maria Hilf, Mönchengladbach, GermanyDepartment of Internal Medicine, Danube Private University, Krems/Donau, AustriaResearch Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Danube Private University, Krems/Donau, AustriaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Danube Private University, Krems/Donau, AustriaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Danube Private University, Krems/Donau, AustriaHeart Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyFire Department, City of Cologne, Institute for Security Science and Rescue Technology, Cologne, GermanyResearch Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Danube Private University, Krems/Donau, AustriaCenter of Biosciences, Danube Private University, Krems/Donau, AustriaBioscientia, Institute of Medical Diagnostics, Ingelheim, GermanyResearch Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Danube Private University, Krems/Donau, AustriaBackground: Since December 2019 the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is the center of global attention due to its rapid transmission and toll on health care systems and global economy. Population-based serosurveys measuring antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 provide one method for estimating previous infection rates including the symptom-free courses of the disease and monitoring the progression of the epidemic.Methods: In June 2020 we succeeded in testing almost half of the population of an Austrian township (1,359 inhabitants) with a reported higher incidence for COVID-19 infections (17 PCR positive cases have been officially reported until the date of sample collection, i.e., 1.2% of the total population). We determined the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies in this population, factors affecting, and symptoms correlated with prior infection. Antibodies were determined using a CE-certified quality-controlled ELISA test for SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgA antibodies.Results: We found a high prevalence of 9% positive antibodies among the town population in comparison to 6% of the neighboring villages. This was considerably higher than the officially known RT-PCR-approved COVID-19 cases (1.2%) in the town population. Twenty percent of SARS-CoV-2-antibody positive cases declared being asymptomatic in a questionnaire. On the other hand, we identified six single major symptoms, including anosmia/ageusia, weight loss, anorexia, general debility, dyspnea, and fever, and especially their combination to be of high prognostic value for predicting SARS-CoV-2 infection in a patient.Conclusions: This population study demonstrated a high prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 as a marker of past infections in an Austrian township. Several symptoms revealed a diagnostic value especially in combination.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.632942/fullSARS-CoV-2COVID-19immunology & infectious diseasesantibody prevalencedisease symptom assessment |
| spellingShingle | Dennis Ladage Dennis Ladage Dennis Ladage Yana Höglinger Yana Höglinger Dorothee Ladage Christoph Adler Christoph Adler Christoph Adler Israfil Yalcin Oliver Harzer Oliver Harzer Ralf J. Braun SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian Population Frontiers in Medicine SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 immunology & infectious diseases antibody prevalence disease symptom assessment |
| title | SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian Population |
| title_full | SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian Population |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian Population |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian Population |
| title_short | SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian Population |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 specific antibody prevalence and symptoms in a local austrian population |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 immunology & infectious diseases antibody prevalence disease symptom assessment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.632942/full |
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