SEROPREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO SARS-CoV-2 IN CHILDREN AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Objective: To study the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (AB) in children in the 2nd year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia. Materials and methods: Prospective cohort study. The seroprevalence research was conducted among 3670 children aged 1 to 17 y/o from 26 modelling regions of Russia (that have been participating earlier in the five stages of seromonitoring during 2020-2021). The serological testing was carried out in December, 2021. The work was carried out according to a unified methodology set by the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being with the Pasteur Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology (Saint Petersburg, Russia). The plasma was obtained from 3 ml of venous blood, in which the level of AB to nucleocapsid (NC), and the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) was determined by immunoferment method using reagents for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Results: The analysis of AB seroprevalence to NC and RBD showed the statistically significant increase in the share of seropositivity to RBD in children of all modelling regions (p<0.05). The most seropositive volunteers contained low levels of AB: 31.3-125.6 BAU/ml NC and 22.6-220 BAU/ml RBD. An increase in the level of AB to NC and RBD was accompanied by a decrease in the percentage of seropositive patients. Evaluating the contribution of children to the level of humoral immunity, convalescents (had been ill shortly before the examination), the «anamnesis» (had been ill at previous stages of seromonitoring) and asymptomatic (had been asymptomatically ill) groups were distinguished. The maximum contribution was made by children with asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 in anamnesis: In 82.3% (95% CI 81.1-83.6), of which 76.9% (95% CI 75.5-78.3) AB detected to RBD. The contribution of children of two other groups to the overall level of humoral immunity was 33 times less. Conclusion: Statistically significant predominance of AB to RBD above AB to NC and their main contribution to the level of humoral immunity to SARS-CоV-2 (p<0.001).

Immune response to sars-cov-2 and the risk of covid-19 among different groups of healthcare workers

Introduction. To date, issues related to the protection of medical workers from COVID-19 infection, including immunological protection, are of particular interest. The aim of the study was to explore seroprevalence of the IgG to SARS-CoV-2 N-protein in various groups of medical workers with the following assessment of the risk of COVID-19, depending on the seropositivity and occupational group. Materials and methods. The study of the strength of immunity to COVID-19 was carried out within the framework of the large-scale Rospotrebnadzor program to assess population immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the population of the Russian Federation, considering the protocol recommended by WHO, on the basis of the laboratories of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Republic of Tatarstan. From the sample of the study conducted in the Republic of Tatarstan, medical workers (301) were selected without a history of a new coronavirus infection and with no clinical symptoms of this disease at the time of biomaterial sampling ( June 2020);the absence of the transferred new coronavirus infection was verified by the Unified State Information System "Electronic Health of the Republic of Tatarstan". The comparison group included 52 employees belonging to the engineering and technical personnel and not employed in medical institutions who met the above inclusion criteria. In the aggregate, the observation group (medical workers and the comparison group) included 12.1% of the participants in the population study. Results. The rate of seropositivity was 36.5% in the control groups, 23.7% — in doctors, and 38.9% — in nurses. Compared to doctors, seroprevalence was higher in nurses. The employment of medical workers in temporary infectious diseases hospitals did not affect the production of the IgG to SARS-CoV-2 N-protein. A relatively low prevalence of seropositivity among doctors of temporary infectious diseases hospitals was revealed. The probability of seroconversion decreased with age and did not depend on gender or history of recent contacts with COVID-19 patients. The survival analysis showed that the probability of remaining healthy by the end of the follow-up was the lowest among doctors from medical and preventive institutions that did not serve as temporary infectious diseases hospitals. The risk of COVID-19 in seronegative individuals was higher, but without statistical significance. Conclusion. According to the data of immunological studies for the presence of IgG antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it was found that the prevalence of seroprevalence in nurses is significantly higher than that of doctors, nurses of medical and prophylactic organizations of young age have higher seroprevalence to the nucleocapsid protein of the SARS-CoV-2. According to prospective observation, it was revealed that doctors of medical and prophylactic organizations that are not classified as temporary infectious diseases hospitals have a higher risk of developing a symptomatic form of COVID-19, which may be due to both the insufficient effectiveness of anti-epidemic measures and the peculiarities of the immune response and approaches, used to evaluate it. In the current epidemic situation, the detection of IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be used to decide on the distribution of responsibilities among medical personnel. © 2021, Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved.

FEATURES OF DEVELOPING SARS-CoV-2 NUCLEOCAPSID PROTEIN POPULATION-BASED SEROPREVALENCE DURING THE FIRST WAVE OF THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, dubbed COVID-19, has become one of the most serious challenges for human populations in the vast majority of countries worldwide. Rapid spreading and increased mortality related to it required new approaches to manage epidemic processes on a global scale. One of such approaches was based on analyzing SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence associated with COVID-19. Our aim was to summarize the results on assessing seroprevalence to the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen (Nc) in residents from 26 regions of the Russian Federation, carried out during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. Materials and methods. Seroprevalence distribution was examined in 26 model regions of the Russian Federation according to the unified method developed by the Rospotrebnadzor with the participation of the Federal State Institution Saint Petersburg Pasteur Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Such approach implied formation of a group of volunteer subjects in model geographic region who were tested by ELISA for anti-Nc serum antibody level in peripheral blood. Analyzed primary data obtained in separate regions were either accepted for publication or released. Results. The current paper finalizes the data obtained in all 26 regions of the Russian Federation. The total SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 19.5 (10.0-25.6)% with the maximum and minimum value found in the Kaliningrad Region and the Republic of Crimea, respectively (50.2% vs. 4.3%). A pattern of age-related seroprevalence distribution indicates insignificant predominance of seroprevalence among subjects of 1-17 years old: 22.1 (13.1-31.8)%. Among COVID-19 convalescents positive for SARS-CoV Nc antibodies it reached 60.0 (40.0-73.3)%. The number of contact persons comprised 6285 subjects or 8.5% of total volunteer cohort, with the level of seroprevalence reaching up to 25.3 (17.95-35.8)%. A direct correlation was revealed between levels of seroprevalence in convalescent and contact volunteers. In addition, the reproductive number for SARS-CoV was calculated comprising 5.8 (4.3-8.5) suggesting that one convalescent subject can infect at least 4 healthy individuals. A high level of asymptomatic forms of COVID-19 among seropositive subjects was confirmed empirically comprising up to 93.6 (87.1-94.9)%. Conclusion. A single cross-sectional study performed during 2020 June-August timeframe allowed to assess pattern of sex- and age-related COVID-19 seroprevalence for general population in 26 Russian Federation regions. The data obtained may serve as a basis for the longitudinal cohort investigation with serial subject sampling. The timing and duration of study will be determined by dynamics of ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.

Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among residents of the Republic of Tatarstan during the COVID-19 epidemic period

In late 2019, there were reports of an outbreak of infection caused by a new strain of beta coronavirus SARSCoV-2, the WHO identified the disease as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In Tatarstan, the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed on March 16, 2020, it was an imported case from France. The period of increase in the incidence lasted during the 12th to the 19th week, when the highest rate was recorded, amounting to 16.7 per 100 thousand population. Subsequently, a statistically significant decrease in the incidence was noted. Seroprevalence study was conducted at week 27 (8th week of decline of morbidity).The purpose of the seroepidemiological study was to measure the level and to identify the structure of herd immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus among the population of the Republic of Tatarstan during the rapid spread of the COVID-19 outbreak.Materials and methods. The selection of volunteers for the study was carried out by the method of questionnaires and randomization by random sampling. The exclusion criterion was active COVID-19 infection at the time of the survey. 2,946 people were examined for the presence of specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. The age of the surveyed volunteers ranged from 1 year to 70 years and older.Results. The results of the study showed that in the Republic of Tatarstan during the period of COVID-19 incidence, there was a moderate seroprevalence to SARS-CoV-2, which amounted to 31.3%, against the background of a high frequency (94.5%) of asymptomatic infection in seropositive individuals who did not have a history of past COVID-19 disease, positive PCR result and ARVI symptoms on the day of the examination. The maximum indicators of herd immunity were established in children aged 7-13 years (42.0%), children 14-17 years old (40.3%), with a simultaneous decrease in seroprevalence in persons aged 70 and older (24.0%). In different regions of the Republic of Tatarstan, there was a wide variation in seropositivity results from the minimum in the Zainsky district (8.6%) to the maximum in the Arsky district (74.3%). In 21 out of 38 surveyed districts, the results were unrepresentative due to the small sample size. In COVID-19 convalescents, antibodies are produced in 83.3% of cases. In persons with a positive result of the PCR analysis carried out earlier, antibodies were detected in 100% of cases. Among the volunteers who had contact with patients with COVID-19, the proportion of seropositive is 37%Conclusion. The dynamics of seroprevalence among the population of the Republic of Tatarstan can be qualified as positive, the results obtained can be used to develop a forecast for the development of the epidemiological situation, as well as to plan measures for specific and non-specific prevention of COVID-19. В конце 2019 г. появились сообщения о вспышке инфекции, вызванной новым штаммом beta-коронавируса SARS-CoV-2, заболевание ВОЗ определила как coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). В Республике Татарстране первый случай COVID-19 был диагностирован 16.03.2020 г., это был завозной случай из Франции. Период нарастания заболеваемости продолжался с 12-й по 19-ю неделю, когда был зарегистрирован самый высокий показатель, составивший 16,7 на 100 тыс. населения. В дальнейшем отмечалось статистически значимое снижение заболеваемости. Исследование серопревалентности было проведено на 27-й неделе (8-я неделя снижения заболеваемости)Целью проведенного сероэпидемиологического исследования было определение уровня и структуры популяционного иммунитета к вирусу SARS-CoV-2 среди населения Республики Татарстан в период распространения COVID-19.Материалы и методы. Отбор волонтеров для исследования проводили методом анкетирования и рандомизации путем случайной выборки. Критерием исключения была активная инфекция COVID-19 в момент анкетирования. На наличие специфических антител к SARS-CoV-2 обследовано 2946 человек. Возраст обследованных добровольцев варьировал от 1 года до 70 лет и старше.Результаты. Результаты исследования показали, что в Республике Татарстан в период заболеваемости COVID-19 наблюдалась умеренная серопревалентность к SARS-CoV-2, составившая 31,3%, на фоне высокой частоты (94,5%) бессимптомной инфекции у серопозитивных лиц, не имевших в анамнезе перенесенного заболевания COVID-19, положительного результата ПЦР и симптомов ОРВИ в день обследования. Максимальные показатели коллективного иммунитета установлены у детей 7-13 лет (42,0%), детей 14-17 лет (40,3%) при одновременном снижении серопревалентности у лиц в возрасте 70 лет и старше (24,0%). В разных регионах Республики Татарстан наблюдалось широкое варьирование показателей серопозитивности от минимального в Заинском районе (8,6%) до максимального в Арском районе (74,3%). В 21 районе из 38 обследованных результаты были нерепрезентативны из-за малого числа наблюдений. У реконвалесцентов COVID-19 антитела вырабатываются в 83,3% случаев. У лиц с позитивным результатом ПЦР-анализа, проведенного ранее, антитела выявлялись в 100% случаев. Среди волонтеров, имевших контакты с больными COVID-19, доля серопревалентных 37%.Вывод. Динамику серопревалентности среди населения Республики Татарстан можно квалифицировать как позитивную. Полученные результаты могут быть использованы для разработки прогноза развития эпидемиологической ситуации, а также планирования мероприятий по специфической и неспецифической профилактике COVID-19.