Seroprevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-۲ IgG and IgM Antibodies among Government Employees in Iran

The COVID-۱۹ disease emerged in Wuhan, China, in December ۲۰۱۹ and quickly became a global health threat. Around ۶,۹۴۷,۱۹۲ people have been killed around the world so far, including ۱۴۶,۲۹۲ in Iran. In addition to the definitive diagnosis of the disease by RT-PCR, immunological and serological tests can check the anti-SARS-CoV-۲ N protein antibody titer in people at different stages of infection with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. The serological examination is an effective and efficient method for determining the prevalence of the disease, especially when asymptomatic cases are present or the diagnosis of symptomatic cases is incomplete. The study examined the seroprevalence of COVID-۱۹ at the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute (RVSRI) and the Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO). A total of ۴۹۳ blood samples were collected from volunteers in June ۲۰۲۰ in AREEO, and ۳۸۰ samples were collected in June and July ۲۰۲۰ in RVSRI. The total number of volunteers from both organizations was ۸۷۳. Standard ELISA kits were used to measure IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-۲. A statistical analysis of the obtained data was conducted using SPSS (version ۲۲.۰). Among the total ۸۷۳ volunteers examined in RVSRI and AREEO, ۱۰.۵% had elevated serum titers either for IgM or IgG, ۳.۵۵% of whom were women and ۶.۹۵% were men. Generally, ۸.۸% of people tested positive for IgM, which showed a recent infection with COVID-۱۹ in people at that time and partially indicated the start of a new wave of COVID-۱۹. In RVSRI, ۳.۴۲% of people with positive IgM titers (positive or negative IgG titers) were women and ۵.۵۳% were men. In AREEO, ۳.۰۲% were women and ۵.۷۲% were men. The seroprevalence rate of COVID-۱۹ in RVSRI was ۱۱.۶%, ۴.۲% of which were women and ۷.۳۵% were men, with no significant difference between women and men. The COVID-۱۹ seroprevalence in AREEO was ۹.۷%, ۳.۲۲% of which were women and ۶.۵% were men, with no significant difference between women and men.

Keywords:

ELISA , IGM , IgG , SARS-CoV-۲ , Seroprevalence