Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Croatian solid-organ transplant recipients |
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| Authors: | Anna Mrzljak
eljka Jurekovi&#x; Jadranka Pavi
i&#x;-&#x;ari&#x; Vladimir Stevanovi&#x; Irena Tabain
eljka Hru&#x;kar Danko Mikuli&#x; Ljubo Barbi&#x; Tatjana Vilibi&#x;-avlek |
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| Institution: | 1.Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia;2.School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia;3.Transplant Centre, Merkur University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia;4.Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia;5.Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Zagreb, Croatia |
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| Abstract: | IntroductionThe data on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in solid-organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) in Croatia is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Croatian SOTRs.Materials and methodsFrom 7 September to 27 November 2020 (beginning of the second COVID-19 pandemic wave), a cross-sectional screening for COVID-19 was performed in the adult outpatient liver (LTRs; N = 280) and kidney transplant recipients (KTRs; N = 232). Serum samples were initially tested for SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Vircell Microbiologists, Granada, Spain). All positive samples were confirmed using a virus neutralization test (VNT). Data on risk exposure and COVID-19 related symptoms were collected using a questionnaire.ResultsThe transplanted cohort’s seroprevalence detected by ELISA and VNT was 20.1% and 3.1%, respectively. Neutralizing (NT) antibodies developed in 15.6% of anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA IgG positive SOTRs. The difference in seropositivity rates between LTRs and KTRs was not statistically significant (ELISA 21.1% vs. 19.0%, P = 0.554; VNT 3.6% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.082). Overall VNT positivity rates were higher in patients who reported participation in large community events (5.9% vs. 1.0%; P = 0.027) as well as in patients who reported COVID-19 related symptoms in the past six months. In addition, symptomatic VNT positive patients showed significantly higher (P = 0.031) NT antibody titers (median 128, interquartile range (IQR) = 32-128) compared to asymptomatic patients (median 16, IQR = 16-48).ConclusionsThis study showed that 15.6% of anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA positive Croatian SOTRs developed NT antibodies indicating protective immunity. Further studies are needed to determine the dynamic of NT antibodies and COVID-19 immunity duration in immunocompromised populations such as LTRs and KTRs. |
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| Keywords: | COVID-19 seroprevalence solid-organ transplant recipients SARS-CoV-2 antibodies |
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