Seroprevalence of IgM and IgG Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Asymptomatic People in Wuhan: Data from a General Hospital Near South China Seafood Wholesale Market during March to April in 2020

Biomed Environ Sci. 2021 Sep 20;34(9):743-749. doi: 10.3967/bes2021.103.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic people in Wuhan. This was a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 18,712 asymptomatic participants from 154 work units in Wuhan. Pearson Chi-square test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the standardized seroprevalence of IgG and IgM for age and gender between different groups. The results indicated the standardized seroprevalence of IgG and IgM showed a downward trend and was significantly higher among females than males. Besides, different geographic areas and workplaces had different seroprevalence of IgG among asymptomatic people, and the number of abnormalities in CT imaging were higher in IgG antibody-positive cases than IgG-negative cases. We hope these findings can provide references for herd immunity investigation and provide basis for vaccine development.

Keywords: COVID-19; Computed tomography; IgG; IgM; SARS-CoV-2; Serological testing; Seroprevalence.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / immunology
  • Carrier State / epidemiology*
  • Carrier State / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • China / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins / immunology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupations / classification
  • Phosphoproteins / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
  • nucleocapsid phosphoprotein, SARS-CoV-2
  • spike protein, SARS-CoV-2