Serological investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with suspect measles, 2017-2022.
COVID-19
Measles surveillance
Pre-pandemic
Rash
SARS-CoV-2
Virus emergence
Journal
Virology journal
ISSN: 1743-422X
Titre abrégé: Virol J
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101231645
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
20 07 2023
20 07 2023
Historique:
received:
09
05
2023
accepted:
06
07
2023
medline:
24
7
2023
pubmed:
21
7
2023
entrez:
20
7
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Several studies suggested that SARS-CoV-2 was already spreading worldwide during the last months of 2019 before the first outbreak was detected in Wuhan, China. Lombardy (Northern Italy) was the first European region with sustained SARS-CoV-2 transmission and recent investigations detected SARS-CoV-2-RNA-positive patients in Lombardy since late 2019. We tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG all serum samples available in our laboratory (N = 235, collected between March 2017 and March 2022) that we received within the framework of measles/rubella surveillance from measles and rubella virus-negative patients. Thirteen of 235 samples (5.5%) were IgG-positive. The positivity rate increased starting in 2019 and was significantly different from the expected false positive rate from 2019 onwards. Additionally, in 2019 the percentage of IgG-positive patients was significantly lower among SARS-CoV-2 RNA-negative patients (3/92) compared to SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive patients (2/7, p = 0.04). The highest percentage of IgG positivity in the pre-pandemic period was recorded during the second half of 2019. This coincided with an increase in negativity for measles and a widening of the peak of the number of measles discarded cases per 100,000 inhabitants, indicating a higher-than-normal number of measles-negative patients experiencing fever and rash. This also coincided with the first patient positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (September 12th, 2019); this patient was also positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM. Although the number of samples was low and one cannot conclusively establish that the virus started circulating in Lombardy around September 2019, our findings should stimulate similar research investigating the possibility of undetected SARS-CoV-2 pre-pandemic circulation.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Several studies suggested that SARS-CoV-2 was already spreading worldwide during the last months of 2019 before the first outbreak was detected in Wuhan, China. Lombardy (Northern Italy) was the first European region with sustained SARS-CoV-2 transmission and recent investigations detected SARS-CoV-2-RNA-positive patients in Lombardy since late 2019.
METHODS
We tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG all serum samples available in our laboratory (N = 235, collected between March 2017 and March 2022) that we received within the framework of measles/rubella surveillance from measles and rubella virus-negative patients.
RESULTS
Thirteen of 235 samples (5.5%) were IgG-positive. The positivity rate increased starting in 2019 and was significantly different from the expected false positive rate from 2019 onwards. Additionally, in 2019 the percentage of IgG-positive patients was significantly lower among SARS-CoV-2 RNA-negative patients (3/92) compared to SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive patients (2/7, p = 0.04). The highest percentage of IgG positivity in the pre-pandemic period was recorded during the second half of 2019. This coincided with an increase in negativity for measles and a widening of the peak of the number of measles discarded cases per 100,000 inhabitants, indicating a higher-than-normal number of measles-negative patients experiencing fever and rash. This also coincided with the first patient positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA (September 12th, 2019); this patient was also positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the number of samples was low and one cannot conclusively establish that the virus started circulating in Lombardy around September 2019, our findings should stimulate similar research investigating the possibility of undetected SARS-CoV-2 pre-pandemic circulation.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37474969
doi: 10.1186/s12985-023-02117-9
pii: 10.1186/s12985-023-02117-9
pmc: PMC10357797
doi:
Substances chimiques
RNA, Viral
0
Antibodies, Viral
0
Immunoglobulin G
0
Immunoglobulin M
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
160Informations de copyright
© 2023. The Author(s).
Références
Nat Commun. 2021 Jan 19;12(1):434
pubmed: 33469026
Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2021 Jun;11(3):695-705
pubmed: 33811315
J Med Virol. 2023 Oct;95(10):e29141
pubmed: 37796084
Eur J Epidemiol. 2021 Feb;36(2):219-222
pubmed: 33548003
Lancet Public Health. 2020 Jun;5(6):e310
pubmed: 32339478
Viruses. 2022 May 17;14(5):
pubmed: 35632809
Tumori. 2021 Oct;107(5):446-451
pubmed: 33176598
J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023 Jan;22(1):4-10
pubmed: 36342945
Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2022 Apr 1;35(2):88-94
pubmed: 35067520
Br Dent J. 2020 Oct;229(8):521-524
pubmed: 33097885
BMJ Glob Health. 2022 Mar;7(3):
pubmed: 35296465
Environ Res. 2022 Dec;215(Pt 1):113979
pubmed: 36029839