Antibody seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 within the Canton of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina—One year later

Abstract

Background Serostudies are important resources when following pandemics and predicting their further spread, as well as determining the length of protection against reinfection and vaccine development. The aim of this study was to update data on the prevalence of seropositive individuals in Canton Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) from September 2020 to May 2021. Methods Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were quantified using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Results Compared to the period April–July 2020, when anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected in 3.77% of samples, one year later (May 2021) the estimated percentage within the same population of the urban Canton Sarajevo was 29.9% (5,406/18,066). Of all anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ig-positive individuals, 53.27% were men, and 69.00% were of 50 years of age or younger. Also, the current update found the individuals 50 years of age or younger to be more frequently anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ig positive compared to older individuals. On the other hand, higher median anti-SARS-CoV-2 Ig levels were found in individuals > 50 years old than in younger individuals, as well as in men compared to women. Seropositivity gradually increased from September 2020 to May 2021, with the lowest frequency of positive cases (3.5%) observed in September 2020, and the highest frequency (77.7%) in January 2021. Conclusion Our results provided important seroprevalence data that could help in planning restrictive local public health measures to protect the population of Sarajevo Canton, especially considering that at the time of the study the vaccines were virtually inaccessible to the general population not belonging to any of the high-priority groups for vaccination.

Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals

“…Patients aged 60–70 years were less at risk of IgM seropositivity, which is consistent with earlier studies [ 17 , 25 , 30 , 39 , 43 , 44 ]. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prguda-Mujic and colleagues reported a reduced risk of positive anti-SARS CoV-2 Ig levels in patients aged over 50 years old [ 30 ]. Other studies reported a reduced risk of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in younger individuals [ 16 , 45 ].…”

“…The overall crude seroprevalence of SARS–CoV–2 was 96.9%, which is consistent with those reported in other settings such as Chile (97.3%) [ 13 ]. In contrast, lower seroprevalence values were recently reported in Portugal (2.7–3.9%), Mozambique (3%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (3.77%), Japan (3.9%), Denmark (5.3%), Chile (7.2%), Spain (9.6–21.9%), Italia (11%), Sweden (11.8%), Iran (14%), Pakistan (16%), Iran (17.1%), Iraq (23.72%), Poland (42.7%), USA (5.6–57.7%), and Lebanon (58.9%) [ 4 , 14 – 30 ]. Differences in study period, SARS–CoV–2 variants, age groups, prevalence of risk factors and/or comorbidities (e.g., obesity, diabetes, hypertension), and COVID–19 vaccine coverage could explain discrepancies between seroprevalence estimates.…”

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the county town of Slovakia – a pilot study from the Trencin city

“…Such knowledge at the level of institutions, regions or entire countries can be very useful for the management of anti-pandemic measures. Therefore, it is not surprising that the results of such seroepidemiological studies are presented in dozens of scientific publications (Anda et al, 2022;Fernández-Rojas et al, 2022;Goldfarb et a.l, 2022;Lewin et al, 2022;Mahallawi et al, 2022;Mercado-Reyes et a.l, 2022;Olariu et al, 2022;Prakash et al, 2022;Prguda-Mujic et al, 2022).…”

COVID-19 Seroprevalence in Children during Pandemic Waves in Sarajevo, a Single Center Experience

“…Similar trends were observed in studies of adults ( 22 ). The seroprevalence in Bosnia and Herzegovina among adults for the period from April to July 2020 was 3.77%, and one year later for the same population it was 29.9% ( 23 ). In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 were found at the beginning of March 2020, in Sarajevo Canton on 20 th March.…”