SARS-CoV-2 antibodies rapid tests: a valuable epidemiological tool in challenging settings

Background: During the last year, mass screening campaigns have been carried out to identify immunological response to SARS-CoV-2 and establish a possible seroprevalence. The obtained results gained new importance with the beginning of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination campaign, as the lack of doses has persuaded several countries to introduce different policies for individuals who had a history of COVID 19. LFAs may represent an affordable tool to support population screening in LMICs, where diagnostic tests are lacking, and epidemiology is still widely unknown. However, LFAs have demonstrated a wide range of performance and the question of which one could be more valuable in these settings still remains. Methods: We evaluated the performance of 11 LFAs in detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection, analysing samples collected from 350 subjects. In addition, samples from 57 health care workers collected at 21-24 days after the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine were also evaluated. Findings: LFAs demonstrated a wide range of specificity (92.31% to 100%) and sensitivity (50 to 100%). The analysis of serum samples post vaccination was used to describe the most suitable tests to detect IgG response against S protein RBD. History of TB therapy was identified as a potential factor affecting the specificity of LFAs. Conclusions: This analysis identified which LFAs represent a valuable tool not only for the detection of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, but also to detect IgG elicited in response to vaccination. These results demonstrated that different LFAs may have different applications and the possible risks of their use in high TB burden settings.

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Persistence of antibodies against Spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 in health care workers post double dose of BBV-152 and AZD1222 vaccines

10.21203/rs.3.rs-888762/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hari Ram Choudhary ◽

Debaprasad Parai ◽

Girish Chandra Dash ◽

Jaya Singh Kshatri ◽

Narayan Mishra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Igg Antibody ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Post Vaccination ◽

Care Workers ◽

History Of ◽

Heath Care ◽

Antibody Levels

Abstract Rationale: Vaccine rollout in India was initiated in mid-January, 2021 and is supposed to be the only antidote against SARS-CoV-2 as of now.Objectives: To study the dynamicity of vaccine-induced IgG antibody against SARS-CoV-2.Methodology: The present cross-sectional cohort study was undertaken to determine IgG antibody among health care workers with completed dose of either Covaxin or Covishield and were followed for 24 weeks after first dose of either vaccine to record the periodic changes in titre, concentration, clinical growth and persistence of vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.Results: Serum samples were collected from 614 participants during each follow-up and tested them in two CLIA-based platforms for testing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies both qualitatively and quantitatively. Among these participants, 308 (50.2%) were Covishield recipient and rest 306 (49.8%) took Covaxin. A total of 81 breakthrough cases was recorded among the cohort participants for whom infection post vaccination acted as booster. The rest 533 heath care workers without any history of post-vaccination infection showed significant antibody waning either from T3 (Covaxin recipient) or T4 (Covishield recipient).Conclusion: The clinical implications of waning antibody levels post vaccination are not well understood, and it remains crucial to establish S-antibody thresholds associated with protection against clinical outcomes.

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Confronting an Emergency: The Vaccination Campaign Against Meningitis in Brazil (1974–1975)

Social History of Medicine ◽

10.1093/shm/hkz120 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Baptiste Baylac-Paouly

Keyword(s):

Scientific Literature ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Social Aspects ◽

Vaccine Production ◽

Historical Sources ◽

Public And Private ◽

Wide Range ◽

History Of ◽

Ongoing Project

Summary On the basis of a wide range of historical sources, including published scientific literature and both public and private archives (Institut Mérieux, WHO and IMTSSA), this article examines the history of the Brazilian vaccination campaign against cerebrospinal meningitis between 1974 and 1975. It explores not only certain aspects of vaccine production but also the wider social aspects of the ongoing project. Thus, it shows how the different actors were mobilised and their work coordinated in order to produce and vaccinate a whole country or more specifically, 90 million Brazilians in less than a year. This episode not only adds to the scholarship on the politics of vaccination but also attests to the complex reality of the production and use of a vaccine in the context of a public health emergency.

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Post-vaccination Monitoring to Assess Foot-and-Mouth Disease Immunity at Population Level in Korea

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.673820 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Mi-Young Park ◽

You Jin Han ◽

Eun-Jin Choi ◽

HeeYeon Kim ◽

Rokeya Pervin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Serological Test ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Foot And Mouth Disease ◽

Mouth Disease ◽

Vaccination Program ◽

Sample Collection ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Post Vaccination ◽

Population Immunity ◽

Foot And Mouth

In South Korea, domestic cattle, pigs, and goats were subjected to mandatory foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccination and year-round serosurveillance since 2011. In 2020, approximately USD 95 million was spent solely for FMD vaccine purchase for 59 million livestock, and 1.25 million samples were tested to estimate the population immunity and demonstrate the absence of virus circulation. As the FMD vaccination program was revised in 2018, the post-vaccination monitoring (PVM) was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccine program of three vaccines approved for routine use. To this end, monitoring post-vaccination immunity has been conducted by collecting 35,626 serum samples at 28 days post-vaccination following regular national vaccinations, which were carried out in April and in October in 2020. The design of the serological test for PVM was specially targeted at particular livestock groups, including dairy cattle, goats, and beef cattle aged 6–12 months, which were generally estimated to have a low expected seroprevalence. The risk factors had also been identified, considering the increased likelihood of infection in a particular location, herd size, and husbandry system applied in a targeted sample collection. Serum sample collection and SP-O and NSP antibody tests were performed by local veterinary laboratories using commercially available ELISAs. The current FMD vaccination program, which was performed twice a year following the regimen of primary vaccination and boost, resulted in over 80% population immunity. The seroprevalence monitored after the vaccination in fall was higher than the one studied in spring except in pigs. It was demonstrated that the seroprevalence of risk-based targeted samples ranged from 93.8 to 100% in cattle, 63.2 to 100% in pigs, and 20.0 to 100% in goats. Of note is the area near the North Korean borders which showed a relatively low seroprevalence among the targeted regions, and no NSP sero-positive reactor was detected in this region. When subpopulation immunity at the individual level was assessed, the seroprevalence in young cattle stock was slightly lower (95.8%) than that of adults (98.4%). In conclusion, the FMD vaccination campaign has been successfully implemented in Korea, and the PVM can be a supplementary program for massive routine surveillance in terms of providing timely information needed both to estimate population immunity and to properly target “risk-based surveillance.”

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IMPACT OF VACCINATION ON COVID INFECTION IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN WESTERN ZONE OF INDIAN RAILWAYS

10.36106/paripex/6501060 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 31-34

Author(s):

C.S. Anand ◽

Hafeezunissa Rehman ◽

K. Krishna Kumar ◽

Brham Prakash ◽

Subodh Kumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Severity ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Vaccine Dose ◽

Post Vaccination ◽

Vaccination Programs ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

Care Workers ◽

Western Zone

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are highly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. HCWs are also likely source of infection of their family members .COVID-19 Vaccination programs started during December 2020 in several countries and prioritized healthcare workers (HCWs).The vaccination campaign coincided with the second surge of COVID cases in Western part of India.This study assess the prevalence of COVID19 infection and disease severity in vaccinated HCWs. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 cases was 6.3% of vaccinated HCWs. Most infection cases occurred within two weeks of the first vaccine dose. Out of total HCWs 87.4% were mild, 11.1% were moderate, and 1.5% were severe cases.This study stresses on early identification of asymptomatic carriers in vaccinated individuals.Even vaccinated HCWs might spread the infection leading to hospital outbreaks.With the emergence of newer strains of Covid 19 and amid the rising cases of Delta variant across the globe,adequate infection control practices like masking,social distancing,appropriate PPE and hand sanitization and vaccination are mandatory.However,disease severity is milder post vaccination.It is important to distinguish symptoms of side effects post vaccination from COVID infection even in vaccinated HCW in pandemic.

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Comparative analysis of post-vaccination anti-spike IgG antibodies in old Nursing Home Residents and in middle-aged Healthcare workers

10.1101/2021.08.03.21261014 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Helene Jeulin ◽

Denis Craus ◽

Carlos Labat ◽

Athanase Benetos

Keyword(s):

Nursing Home ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Post Vaccination ◽

Care Workers ◽

History Of ◽

Few Data

The current consensus is that 2 doses of mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 are needed for people without COVID-19 history, while for those who had suffered COVID-19, a single dose may be enough to achieve high levels of immunization. This consensus has been based on results obtained in middle-aged populations, whereas only few data exist for the oldest and most frail adults such as nursing home residents (NH-Res) that is, the population most vulnerable to develop severe forms of COVID-19. In this study, we studied the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG(S) level of NH-Res and healthcare workers (HCWs) with or without a history of COVID-19 infection taking into account the time since immunization (COVID-19 and/or vaccination). 654 subjects were analyzed: 397 NH-Res (median age 88, IQR 82-93 years, 75% women) and 257 Health Care Workers (HCWs, median 46, IQR 38-54 years, 81% women). NH-Res and HCWs were classified in one of the following 3 groups: No-COVID history and 2 vaccine shots (COV-NO/2VACC); Yes-COVID history and 1 (COV-YES/1VACC) or 2 (COV-YES/2VACC) vaccine injections. The time-related decrease in IgG (S) in subjects without COVID-19 history, SARS-COV-2 serology would be negative in HCWs approximately 220 days and in residents 180 days after vaccination. This time-related decrease was much slower in those with history of COVID. NH-Res belonging into the COV-NO/2VACC and the COV-YES/1VACC groups showed lower IgG (S) levels than the same groups of HCWs (for both groups, p<0.0001), whereas in the group COV-YES/2VACC, IgG (S) levels were similar in NH-Res and HCWs (p=0.88). These results remained unchanged after adjustment for age and duration since immunization. Thus, in NH-Res, 2 vaccine shots were associated with a more pronounced immune response, whereas in HCWs, 1 or 2 vaccine shots in patients with COVID-19 history did make any difference. These results indicate significant differences in mRNA vaccination between NH-Res and middle-aged controls, and could contribute to the specification of vaccine policy in this very old, frail population.

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A Serosurvey Identifying Vulnerability to Measles in Health Care Workers. A Hospital-Based Prospective Seroprevalence Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17124219 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (12) ◽

pp. 4219

Author(s):

Jana Malinová ◽

Marek Petráš ◽

Alexander M. Čelko

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

At Risk ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Concomitant Disease ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Care Workers ◽

History Of ◽

A Prospective Study ◽

The Way

The aim of this serological survey was to assess the persistence of measles antibodies among health care workers (HCWs) at risk of incidental measles. A prospective study of measles-specific antibodies in serum samples obtained from a total of 2782 participants aged 19–89 years was conducted between May 2018 and December 2019. The seropositivity rate of 93.7% (95% CI: 92.4–94.9%) in fully vaccinated participants aged 19–48 years was significantly lower than that of 98.0% (95% CI: 96.5–99.0%) in participants naturally immunised before 54 years. A cohort of those born in 1971–1975, vaccinated predominantly with one dose, showed lower seropositivity persistence (86.6%) than those fully vaccinated with two doses or naturally immunised. Otherwise, seropositivity was not markedly influenced by sex, age, smoking status, overweight, obesity or concomitant disease. The presence of sufficient antibody levels in a high proportion of HCWs irrespective of the way they acquired immunity is a favourable finding for managing incidental measles; hence, in the presence of a risk of a measles outbreak, it would be possible to perform targeted vaccination of only at-risk HCWs with a history of incomplete vaccination or missing information about the way in which immunity is acquired.

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Breadth of neutralising antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern is augmented by vaccination following prior infection: studies in UK healthcare workers and immunodeficient patients

10.1101/2021.06.03.21257901 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Angalee Nadesalingam ◽

Diego Cantoni ◽

David A Wells ◽

Ernest T Aguinam ◽

Matteo Ferrari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Dose ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Post Vaccination ◽

Care Workers ◽

Wide Range ◽

Serological Data ◽

The Uk ◽

Prior Infection ◽

Induced Immunity

A large portion of the UK general population has currently only received a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccination (either BNT162b2 (Pfizer) or AZD1222 (Vaxevria, AstraZeneca)), making it critical that we continue to track and understand the levels of protection against SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs). We undertook a single-centre cross-sectional study in order to understand the variations in vaccine-induced immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine strain (B.1) and three major VOCs (B.1.1.7, B.1351 and P.1). We studied a cohort of outpatients with immunodeficiencies (IDPs) and health care workers (HCWs) based at the same critical care tertiary NHS Trust, following a single dose of either BNT162b2 or AZD1222 vaccines. Our serological data revealed either undetectable antibodies or low neutralising antibodies (nAbs) in IDPs, with only 5% and 3% showing detectable neutralisation of B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, respectively. Healthy HCWs without a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection demonstrated a wide range of nAb titres post-vaccination. However, their responses are significantly lower than HCWs with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Neutralisation of VOCs with the E484K mutation (B.1.351 and P.1) were consistently lower in HCWs in the absence of evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (p<0.001). Notably, in HCWs with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is a significant increase of neutralising titres post-vaccination to all four strains, compared to their pre-vaccination neutralisation titres. This underscores the importance of vaccination even in populations that have been previously exposed, and also provides support for the hypothesis that a second-dose of vaccination will similarly boost immunity to greater protective levels in individuals without prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Overall, this serological nAb analysis after a single-dose of BNT162b2 or AZD1222 vaccination demonstrates a wide variety of responses, particularly against the VOCs, and suggests limited neutralisation-based protection in individuals with immunodeficiencies.

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Group Experiences and Individual Differences in Stuttering

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2019_jslhr-19-00138 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (12) ◽

pp. 4335-4350 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Seth E. Tichenor ◽

J. Scott Yaruss

Keyword(s):

Individual Differences ◽

Support Groups ◽

Support Group ◽

Affective States ◽

Life Outcomes ◽

Self Help ◽

Wide Range ◽

Group Experiences ◽

History Of ◽

Adults Who Stutter

Purpose This study explored group experiences and individual differences in the behaviors, thoughts, and feelings perceived by adults who stutter. Respondents' goals when speaking and prior participation in self-help/support groups were used to predict individual differences in reported behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Method In this study, 502 adults who stutter completed a survey examining their behaviors, thoughts, and feelings in and around moments of stuttering. Data were analyzed to determine distributions of group and individual experiences. Results Speakers reported experiencing a wide range of both overt behaviors (e.g., repetitions) and covert behaviors (e.g., remaining silent, choosing not to speak). Having the goal of not stuttering when speaking was significantly associated with more covert behaviors and more negative cognitive and affective states, whereas a history of self-help/support group participation was significantly associated with a decreased probability of these behaviors and states. Conclusion Data from this survey suggest that participating in self-help/support groups and having a goal of communicating freely (as opposed to trying not to stutter) are associated with less negative life outcomes due to stuttering. Results further indicate that the behaviors, thoughts, and experiences most commonly reported by speakers may not be those that are most readily observed by listeners.

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Introduction: Emotion, History and the Arts

Cultural History ◽

10.3366/cult.2018.0169 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 117-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Erin Sullivan ◽

Marie Louise Herzfeld-Schild

Keyword(s):

Historical Change ◽

Carson Mccullers ◽

Emotional Life ◽

Review Section ◽

The Arts ◽

Wide Range ◽

War Correspondents ◽

History Of ◽

Johan Huizinga

This introduction surveys the rise of the history of emotions as a field and the role of the arts in such developments. Reflecting on the foundational role of the arts in the early emotion-oriented histories of Johan Huizinga and Jacob Burkhardt, as well as the concerns about methodological impressionism that have sometimes arisen in response to such studies, the introduction considers how intensive engagements with the arts can open up new insights into past emotions while still being historically and theoretically rigorous. Drawing on a wide range of emotionally charged art works from different times and places—including the novels of Carson McCullers and Harriet Beecher-Stowe, the private poetry of neo-Confucian Chinese civil servants, the photojournalism of twentieth-century war correspondents, and music from Igor Stravinsky to the Beatles—the introduction proposes five ways in which art in all its forms contributes to emotional life and consequently to emotional histories: first, by incubating deep emotional experiences that contribute to formations of identity; second, by acting as a place for the expression of private or deviant emotions; third, by functioning as a barometer of wider cultural and attitudinal change; fourth, by serving as an engine of momentous historical change; and fifth, by working as a tool for emotional connection across communities, both within specific time periods but also across them. The introduction finishes by outlining how the special issue's five articles and review section address each of these categories, while also illustrating new methodological possibilities for the field.

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History of the Study of Apocrypha in Early Medieval England

Bulletin for the Study of Religion ◽

10.1558/bsor.37171 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 48 (3-4) ◽

pp. 13-26

Author(s):

Brandon W. Hawk

Keyword(s):

Old Testament ◽

Medieval England ◽

Medieval Period ◽

Early Medieval ◽

Future Directions ◽

Early Judaism ◽

Wide Range ◽

History Of ◽

The Subject ◽

Early English

Literature written in England between about 500 and 1100 CE attests to a wide range of traditions, although it is clear that Christian sources were the most influential. Biblical apocrypha feature prominently across this corpus of literature, as early English authors clearly relied on a range of extra-biblical texts and traditions related to works under the umbrella of what have been called “Old Testament Pseudepigrapha” and “New Testament/Christian Apocrypha." While scholars of pseudepigrapha and apocrypha have long trained their eyes upon literature from the first few centuries of early Judaism and early Christianity, the medieval period has much to offer. This article presents a survey of significant developments and key threads in the history of scholarship on apocrypha in early medieval England. My purpose is not to offer a comprehensive bibliography, but to highlight major studies that have focused on the transmission of specific apocrypha, contributed to knowledge about medieval uses of apocrypha, and shaped the field from the nineteenth century up to the present. Bringing together major publications on the subject presents a striking picture of the state of the field as well as future directions.

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