Universität zu Köln

Ladage, Dennis, Hoeglinger, Yana, Ladage, Dorothee, Adler, Christoph, Yalcin, Israfil, Harzer, Oliver and Braun, Ralf J. (2021). SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Prevalence and Symptoms in a Local Austrian Population. Front. Med., 8. LAUSANNE: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. ISSN 2296-858X

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Ladage, Dennis UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hoeglinger, Yana UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Ladage, Dorothee UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Adler, Christoph UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Yalcin, Israfil UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Harzer, Oliver UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Braun, Ralf J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-580105
DOI:	10.3389/fmed.2021.632942
Journal or Publication Title:	Front. Med.
Volume:	8
Date:	2021
Publisher:	FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
Place of Publication:	LAUSANNE
ISSN:	2296-858X
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Medicine, General & Internal Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/58010