SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian Population

Frontiers in Medicine

article

Dennis Ladage¹  Yana Höglinger¹  Dorothee Ladage¹  Christoph Adler¹  Israfil Yalcin⁴  Oliver Harzer⁶  Ralf J. Braun⁴ 

[1] Department of Internal Medicine, Danube Private University;Heart Center, University of Cologne;Department of Pneumology;Research Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Danube Private University;Fire Department, Institute for Security Science and Rescue Technology;Center of Biosciences, Danube Private University;Institute of Medical Diagnostics

关键词: SARS-CoV-2;    COVID-19;    immunology & infectious diseases;    antibody prevalence;    disease symptom assessment;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fmed.2021.632942

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY