Community-Based Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies following the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia

Abdulaziz Alhazmi, Edrous Alamer, Siddig Abdelwahab, Nizar Khamjan, Abdullah Hamami, Moayad Haddad, Majid Darraj, Anwar M. Hashem and Abdullah Algaissi
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Abdulaziz Alhazmi: Microbiology and Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
Edrous Alamer: Emerging and Epidemic Infectious Diseases Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
Siddig Abdelwahab: Emerging and Epidemic Infectious Diseases Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
Nizar Khamjan: Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Hamami: Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
Moayad Haddad: King Fahad Central Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
Majid Darraj: Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
Anwar M. Hashem: Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21859, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Algaissi: Emerging and Epidemic Infectious Diseases Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-9

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to spread globally, causing unprecedented effects on global health and economies. Community-based serological data are essential for understanding the true prevalence of infections, specifically the subclinical infections, as COVID-19 asymptomatic infections are common. Such data would also be important for decision making around choosing appropriate epidemiological control measures, as well as for the true estimation of mortality rates in the population. Further, determining the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the population would provide important information on herd immunity. In this study, we conducted a population-based age-stratified serological study to understand the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Jazan Province, Saudi Arabia. Out of 594 participants who were recruited from 29 August to 30 December 2020, just before the vaccination rollout program in Saudi Arabia, about 157 were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2, indicating an estimated seropositivity rate of 26%. Although no significant difference in seropositivity was seen between male and female participants, we found that lower seroprevalence was associated with the younger (below 18 years old) and older populations (older than 56 years) compared with other age groups (19–55 years). These data indicate a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies following the peak of COVID-19 spread in Jazan province; however, most of the population (three-quarters) remains susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; seroprevalence; anti-S antibodies; ELISA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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