Relation between IgG antibodies to foods and IgE antibodies to milk, egg, cat, dog and/or mite in a cross-sectional study

Introduction: After a large outbreak of dengue virus (DENV) serotype-3 in Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKN) in 2008, we performed a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of anti-DENV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in expatriate and local persons affiliated with an American veterinary school there. Methodology: This campus community comprised mostly expatriate students and faculty and Kittitian administrative staff. In 2009, a stratified random sample of students, faculty and staff was invited to complete an electronic survey to assess risk factors for DENV and provide blood for testing for anti-DENV IgG antibodies by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IgG-positive specimens were also tested by a 90% plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT90) to determine immunoreactivity to DENV (1-4) serotypes and West Nile virus. Risk factors for anti-DENV IgG seropositivity were determined using simple and adjusted logistic regression. Results: Of the 118 participants, the overall prevalence of DENV IgG antibodies was 44.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.1-53.0%), ranging from 30.1% in students, 100.0% in staff and 57.9% in faculty (p < 0.001). Duration of residence in St. Kitts was the only variable significantly associated with seropositivity on multiple logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI]: 1.21 [1.07-1.37]). The serotype of DENV was determined in 11 persons: DENV-1 (n = 4), DENV-2 (n = 3), and DENV-3 (n = 4). Conclusions: Expatriate students and faculty moving to St. Kitts from non-endemic areas were at high risk of DENV infection. There is a need for increased emphasis on pre-travel mosquito-borne virus prevention education for persons moving to St. Kitts to study and work.

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Evaluation of nine serological rapid tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública ◽

10.26633/rpsp.2020.149 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Marcela Mercado ◽

Jeadran Malagón-Rojas ◽

Gabriela Delgado ◽

Vivian Vanesa Rubio ◽

Lida Muñoz Galindo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Study Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Serological Tests ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Diagnostic Aid ◽

Rapid Tests

Objective. To evaluate the operative capacity of nine serological rapid tests to detect the IgM/IgG antibodies response in serum from patients with SARS-CoV-2 in different clinical stages. Methods. A cross-sectional study of serological rapid tests was designed to compare the performance of the evaluated immunochromatographic tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 293 samples was used, including negatives, asymptomatic, and symptomatic serum samples. Results. The sensitivity of the evaluated tests was low and moderate in the groups of asymptomatic serum samples and the group of serums coming from patients with less than 11 days since the onset of the symptoms. The specificity for the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies tests ranged between 86.5%-99% for IgM and 86.5%-99.5% for IgG. The sensitivity and the likelihood ratio were different according to the study groups. The usefulness of these tests is restricted to symptomatic patients and their sensitivity is greater than 85% after 11 days from the appearance of symptoms. Conclusions. Serological tests are not an adequate strategy for the identification of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients. Serological rapid tests for the detection of specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can be used as a diagnostic aid, but diagnosis must be confirmed by RT-PCR. Rapid tests should be reserved for patients with symptoms lasting more than 11 days.

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Prevalence and risk factors of Hantavirus infection in patients undergoing hemodialysis in Khartoum, Sudan, in 2019: a cross-sectional study

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.1093/trstmh/traa105 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Azza A Abbas ◽

Hiba A A Ali ◽

Mohamed A Alagib ◽

Huda F S Salih ◽

Isam M Elkhidir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Esrd Patient ◽

Hemorrhagic Fever ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hantavirus Infection ◽

Plasma Samples ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Esrd Patients

Abstract Background Hantaviruses are enveloped negative sense RNA viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of Hantavirus IgG antibodies and possible risk factors for Hantaviruses infections among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients attending the Dr Salma dialysis center in Sudan. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study in which 91 ESRD patients and 30 healthy plasma samples were screened for Hantavirus IgG antibodies using ELISA. A questionnaire containing sociodemographics, history of rat exposure and clinical data information was filled in by each ESRD patient. Results In this study, 9 out of 91 ESRD patients (9.9%) tested positive for Hantaviruses antibodies (IgG) while none of the 30 healthy plasma samples showed seropositivity. There was no statistically significant association between age, gender, educational level and rat exposure and Hantavirus infection in ESRD patients (p>0.05) Conclusion This study is the first to be conducted in Sudan regarding Hantaviruses and ESRD. The prevalence of Hantavirus antibodies among ESRD patients is high compared with findings reported in the literature from studies conducted on the same group of patients. It points to an interesting question as to whether Hantaviruses have an association with ESRD but further studies are needed before drawing any conclusions.

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Assessing seropositivity for IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Ahmedabad city of India: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044101 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e044101

Author(s):

Om Prakash ◽

Bhavin Solanki ◽

Jay K Sheth ◽

Bhavin Joshi ◽

Mina Kadam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Effective Vaccine ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Time Zone ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The People ◽

Primary Health Centres ◽

The Difference

ObjectivesTo study the percentage seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 to understand the pandemic status and predict the future situations in Ahmedabad.Study designCross-sectional study.SettingsField area of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.ParticipantsMore than 30 000 individuals irrespective of their age, sex, acute/past COVID-19 infection participated in the serosurvey which covered all the 75 Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) across 48 wards and 7 zones of the city. Study also involved healthcare workers (HCWs) from COVID-19/non-COVID-19 hospitals.InterventionsSeropositivity of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was measured as a mark of COVID-19 infection.Primary and secondary outcomesSeropositivity was used to calculate cumulative incidence. Correlation of seropositivity with available demographic detail was used for valid and precise assessment of the pandemic situation.ResultsFrom 30 054 samples, the results were available for 29 891 samples and the crude seropositivity is 17.61%. For all the various age groups, the seropositivity calculated between 15% and 20%. The difference in seropositivity for both the sex group is statistically not significant. The seropositivity is significantly lower (13.64%) for HCWs as compared with non-HCWs (18.71%). Seropositivity shows increasing trend with time. Zone with maximum initial cases has high positivity as compared with other zones. UPHCs with recent rise in cases are leading in seropositivity as compared with earlier and widely affected UPHCs.ConclusionsThe results of serosurveillance suggest that the population of Ahmedabad is still largely susceptible. People still need to follow preventive measures to protect themselves till an effective vaccine is available to the people at large. The data indicate the possibility of vanishing immunity over time and need further research to cross verify with scientific evidences.

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Maternal and congenital infections arising from Zika, dengue and Chikungunya arboviruses in Salvador, Brazil

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.1093/trstmh/trz098 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 114 (3) ◽

pp. 222-225

Author(s):

Alan Oliveira Duarte ◽

João Vitor Oliveira ◽

Tereza Cristina Xavier Carvalho ◽

Lorena de Brito Pessoa ◽

Cláudio Magalhães Filho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Zika Virus ◽

Neonatal Screening ◽

Congenital Infection ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Exposure ◽

Congenital Infections ◽

Igm Antibodies

Abstract Background Salvador was one of the Brazilian cities most affected during the 2015 Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed with enrolment of parturients and their newborns. Results Positive IgM antibodies for ZIKV, dengue (DENV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV) were present in 6.9, 11.9 and 22.8% of the parturients, and IgG antibodies were detected in 72.3, 92.3 and 38.6%, respectively. No cases of DENV congenital infection were identified. ZIKV and CHIKV congenital infections were observed in 16.5 and 13% of newborns, respectively. Conclusions High exposure rates to the three arboviruses and the identification of newborns with ZIKV and CHIKV congenital infections reinforces the necessity of ZIKV and CHIKV prenatal and neonatal screening in endemic regions.

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Use of personal protective equipment against coronavirus disease 2019 by healthcare professionals in Wuhan, China: cross sectional study

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.m2195 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. m2195 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

Min Liu ◽

Shou-Zhen Cheng ◽

Ke-Wei Xu ◽

Yang Yang ◽

Qing-Tang Zhu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nucleic Acids ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Positive Test ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Study Participants

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the protective effects of appropriate personal protective equipment for frontline healthcare professionals who provided care for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19).DesignCross sectional study.SettingFour hospitals in Wuhan, China.Participants420 healthcare professionals (116 doctors and 304 nurses) who were deployed to Wuhan by two affiliated hospitals of Sun Yat-sen University and Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University for 6-8 weeks from 24 January to 7 April 2020. These study participants were provided with appropriate personal protective equipment to deliver healthcare to patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 and were involved in aerosol generating procedures. 77 healthcare professionals with no exposure history to covid-19 and 80 patients who had recovered from covid-19 were recruited to verify the accuracy of antibody testing.Main outcome measuresCovid-19 related symptoms (fever, cough, and dyspnoea) and evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, defined as a positive test for virus specific nucleic acids in nasopharyngeal swabs, or a positive test for IgM or IgG antibodies in the serum samples.ResultsThe average age of study participants was 35.8 years and 68.1% (286/420) were women. These study participants worked 4-6 hour shifts for an average of 5.4 days a week; they worked an average of 16.2 hours each week in intensive care units. All 420 study participants had direct contact with patients with covid-19 and performed at least one aerosol generating procedure. During the deployment period in Wuhan, none of the study participants reported covid-19 related symptoms. When the participants returned home, they all tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 specific nucleic acids and IgM or IgG antibodies (95% confidence interval 0.0 to 0.7%).ConclusionBefore a safe and effective vaccine becomes available, healthcare professionals remain susceptible to covid-19. Despite being at high risk of exposure, study participants were appropriately protected and did not contract infection or develop protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Healthcare systems must give priority to the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment, and provide adequate training to healthcare professionals in its use.

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Rubella virus infection and associated factors among pregnant women attending the antenatal care clinics of public hospitals in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016824 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. e016824 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Biniam Tamirat ◽

Siraj Hussen ◽

Techalew Shimelis

Keyword(s):

Virus Infection ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Rubella Virus ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Rubella Virus Infection

ObjectiveTo assess the seroprevalence of recent/acute and past exposure to rubella virus infection and associated risk factors among pregnant women.DesignA hospital-based cross-sectional study.SettingThe study was conducted in two public hospitals in Hawassa City, Southern Ethiopia.ParticipantsA total of 422 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics were selected using a systematic random sampling technique from March to June 2016.Outcome measuresData on sociodemography and related factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were also collected from each study participant and tested for antirubella IgM and IgG antibodies using ELISA. IgG seropositivity indicates past exposure to rubella (protective immunity). IgM seropositivity indicates recent exposure to rubella (or reinfection).ResultsThe seroprevalence of antirubella IgM and IgG antibodies was 2.1% and 86.3%, respectively. Thus, the rate of susceptibility to rubella virus infection among pregnant women was found to be 13.7%. A significant association between residence site and IgG seropositivity was observed, where urban dwellers had higher past rubella exposure compared with rural residents (crude OR 6.3; 95% CI 3.29 to 12.14, p<0.001).ConclusionThe high rate of rubella exposure and its similar distribution by sociodemography (except residence site) suggests the continuous transmission and endemicity of the infection in the study area. These findings emphasise the importance of introducing rubella-containing vaccine into routine childhood immunisation programme and vaccinating susceptible women of childbearing age.

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High Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)-Specific Antibodies among Healthcare Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Guilan, Iran

Journal of Environmental and Public Health ◽

10.1155/2021/9081491 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Heydar Ali Balou ◽

Tofigh Yaghubi Kalurazi ◽

Farahnaz Joukar ◽

Soheil Hassanipour ◽

Mohammad Shenagari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Odds Ratio ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Antibody Test ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Age Group ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Wide Range

Background. This study was conducted to evaluate the anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgM and IgG antibodies among healthcare workers in Guilan. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 503 healthcare workers. Between April and May 2020, blood samples were collected from the healthcare workers of Razi Hospital in Rasht, Guilan, Iran. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the detection and quantitation of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgM/IgG antibodies by using kits made by Pishtaz Teb Company, Tehran, Iran. Results. From a total of 503 participants, the result of the anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgM antibody test was positive in 28 subjects (5.6%) and the anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG antibody test was positive in171 subjects (34%). Participants in the age group of 35–54 years were significantly more likely to have a positive anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody test than the age group of 20–34 years (odds ratio = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.04–2.25, P = 0.029 ). Also, physicians were significantly more likely to have a positive antibody test than office workers (odds ratio = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.04–3.54, P = 0.037 ). The wide range of symptoms was significantly associated with the positive anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody test. The most significant association was observed between fever and a positive anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibody test (odds ratio = 3.03, 95% CI: 2.06–4.44, P < 0.001 ). Conclusion. The results of the current study indicated that the seroprevalence of COVID-19 was high among healthcare workers of Guilan Province. It seems that this finding was due to the earlier exposure to COVID-19 and the lack of awareness and preparedness to deal with the pandemic in Iran, compared to other countries.

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Seroprevalence of Dengue and Chikungunya antibodies among blood donors in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-06549-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Haliya S. Shauri ◽

Esther Ngadaya ◽

Mbazi Senkoro ◽

Joram J. Buza ◽

Sayoki Mfinanga

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Demographic Information ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Blood Banks ◽

Arboviral Diseases ◽

Stored Blood ◽

Insight Into

Abstract Background The potential shift of major causes of febrile illnesses from malaria to non-malarial febrile illnesses, including arboviral diseases such as chikungunya and dengue, is of concern. The last outbreaks of these infections were reported in 2018 and 2019 for chikungunya in Zanzibar and dengue in Dar es Salaam. We conducted a cross-sectional study that involved serological testing of stored blood samples from the blood banks in Temeke Referral Hospital in Dar es Salaam and the National Blood Bank Unit in Zanzibar. The samples were collected from Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam donors in May and June 2020, respectively. A total of 281 samples were included in the study, and their demographic information extracted from the registers. The samples were then transported to Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences at the Microbiology Laboratory. They were subjected to an indirect ELISA to detect IgG and IgM against dengue and chikungunya viruses. Results Seropositive IgM samples from Dar es Salaam were 3/101 (2.97%) for chikungunya and 1/101 (0.9%) for dengue, while samples from Zanzibar were all IgM negative for both viruses. Chikungunya IgG seropositivity was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in Dar es Salaam 21/101 (21.2%) than Zanzibar 22/180 (12.2%). There was no difference in dengue IgG seropositivity between Dar es Salaam 44/101 (43.5%) and Zanzibar 68/180 (37.8%). Similarly, dual IgG seropositivity for both dengue and chikungunya viruses were not different between Dar es Salaam 13/101 (12.9%) and Zanzibar 11/180 (6.1%). Conclusion Detection of IgM for dengue and chikungunya in Dar es Salaam indicates recent or ongoing transmission of the two viruses in the absence of a reported outbreak. These findings suggest the possibility of transmission of the two infections through blood transfusion. Detection of IgG antibodies for dengue and chikungunya viruses might be contributed by both; the ongoing infections and residual responses caused by preceding infections in the country. Results from blood banks may represent the tip of the iceberg. Further studies are needed to gain insight into the actual burden of the two diseases in Tanzania.

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