The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among asymptomatic blood donors in Saudi Arabia

Mahallawi, Waleed H.; Al‐Zalabani, Abdulmohsen H.

doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.12.009

Cited by 32 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Non-COVID patients had a trend of higher seroprevalence than blood donors. This is likely due to their co-morbid conditions as previous studies suggested that comorbidities are risk factors for COVID-19, partially as a result of increased expression of ACE-2, the SARS-CoV-2 host-cell receptor [ 18 , 19 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering age, gender, and co-morbidities in our HCWs, there was a significant indication of an association between seroprevalence in HCWs and prevalence of hypertension. Although this is a small size cohort and requires further studies on a larger sample size, hypertension has been previously reported as a risk factor for COVID-19 [ 18 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nationwide Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia

Alharbi¹,

Alghnam²,

Algaissi³

et al. 2021

Journal of Infection and Public Health

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Background Estimated seroprevalence of Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a critical evidence for a better evaluation of the virus spread and monitoring the progress of COVID-19 pandemic in a population. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence has been reported in specific regions, but an extensive nationwide study has not been reported. Here, we report a nationwide study to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the population of KSA during the pandemic, using serum samples from healthy blood donors, non-COVID patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) in six different regions of the kingdom, with addition samples from COVID-19 patients. Methods A total of 11,703 serum samples were collected from different regions of the KSA including; 5395 samples from residual healthy blood donors (D); 5877 samples from non-COVID patients collected through residual sera at clinical biochemistry labs from non-COVID patients (P); and 400 samples from consented HCWs. To determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2, all serum samples, in addition to positive control sera from RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients, were subjected to in-house ELISA with a sample pooling strategy, which was further validated by testing individual samples that make up some of the pools, with a statistical estimation method to report seroprevalence estimates. Results Overall (combining D and P groups) seroprevalence estimate was around 11% in Saudi Arabia; and was 5.1% (Riyadh), 1.5% (Jazan), 18.4% (Qassim), 20.8% (Hail), 14.7% (ER; Alahsa), and 18.8% in Makkah. Makkah samples were only D group and had a rate of 24.4% and 12.8% in the cities of Makkah and Jeddah, respectively. The seroprevalence in Saudi Arabia across the sampled areas would be 12 times the reported COVID-19 infection rate. Among HCWs, 7.5% (4.95–10.16 CI 95%) had reactive antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 without reporting any previously confirmed infection. This was higher in HCWs with hypertension. The study also presents the demographics and prevalence of co-morbidities in HCWs and subset of non-COVID-19 population. Interpretation Our study estimates the overall national serological prevalence of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia to be 11%, with an apparent disparity between regions. This indicates the prevalence of asymptomatic or mild unreported COVID-19 cases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nationwide Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia

Alharbi¹,

Alghnam²,

Algaissi³

et al. 2021

Journal of Infection and Public Health

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“…4 However, our result is similar to that reported in the Madina region, Saudi Arabia during June 2020 (19.3% seroprevalence). 21 Notably, the Madina region has the highest incidence rate in Saudi Arabia (1.3%), 4 and this is likely why they reported higher seroprevalence than us even though their study was conducted during the early part of the pandemic's peak. The other study in Riyadh only looked at HCWs in May 2020 and found seroprevalence to be 1.06%.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Four SARS-CoV-2 IgG studies have been conducted in Saudi Arabia since the pandemic started. [20][21][22][23] Three of the studies looked at the blood donors in the early phase of the pandemic (Jan-May, May, and May-June of 2020), [21][22][23] and one looked at healthcare workers (HCWs) during May 2020. 20 The results showed huge variability from 1.4% to 19.3% SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…20 The results showed huge variability from 1.4% to 19.3% SARS-CoV-2 IgG positivity. [20][21][22][23] In Riyadh, 2 studies looked at seroprevalence in May 2020 and found that the positivity was 0% in blood donors and 1.1% in HCW. 20,23 However, none have evaluated SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence after the peak and before the vaccine role out in the Kingdom to better understand the spread of the disease.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Risk factors and predictors that influence SARS-Cov-2 IgG positivity

Alosaimi

Alhetheel

Aleisa

et al. 2021

SMJ

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The relationship between blood groups and risk of infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 or development of severe outcomes: A review

Shokri

Golmohammadi

Noori

et al. 2021

Reviews in Medical Virology

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Summary The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is considered a global catastrophe that has overwhelmed health care systems. Since initiation of the pandemic, identification of characteristics that might influence risk of infection and poor disease outcomes have been of paramount interest. Blood group phenotypes are genetically inherited characteristics whose association with certain infectious diseases have long been debated. The aim of this review is to identify whether a certain type of blood group may influence an individual’s susceptibility to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and developing severe outcomes. Our review shows that blood group O protects individuals against SARS‐CoV‐2, whereas blood group A predisposes them to being infected. Although the association between blood groups and outcomes of COVID‐19 is not consistent, it is speculated that non‐O blood group carriers with COVID‐19 are at higher risk of developing severe outcomes in comparison to O blood group. The interaction between blood groups and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is hypothesized to be as result of natural antibodies against blood group antigens that may act as a part of innate immune response to neutralize viral particles. Alternatively, blood group antigens could serve as additional receptors for the virus and individuals who are capable of expressing these antigens on epithelial cells, which are known as secretors, would then have a high propensity to be affected by SARS‐CoV‐2.

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The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among asymptomatic blood donors in Saudi Arabia

Cited by 32 publications

References 27 publications

Nationwide Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia

Nationwide Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Saudi Arabia

Risk factors and predictors that influence SARS-Cov-2 IgG positivity

The relationship between blood groups and risk of infection with SARS‐CoV‐2 or development of severe outcomes: A review

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