Lessons We Have Learned Regarding Seroprevalence in High and Low SARS-CoV-2 Contexts in Greece before the Omicron Pandemic Wave

Ourania S. Kotsiou, George D. Vavougios, Dimitrios Papagiannis, Elena Matsiatsiou, Dimitra Avgeri, Evangelos C. Fradelos, Dimitra I. Siachpazidou, Garifallia Perlepe, Angeliki Miziou, Athanasios Kyritsis, Eudoxia Gogou, Serafim Kalampokas, Georgios Kalantzis, Vaios S. Kotsios and Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis
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Ourania S. Kotsiou: Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, GAIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
George D. Vavougios: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Dimitrios Papagiannis: Public Health & Vaccines Lab, Department of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, GAIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Elena Matsiatsiou: Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, GAIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Dimitra Avgeri: Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, GAIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Evangelos C. Fradelos: Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, GAIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Dimitra I. Siachpazidou: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Garifallia Perlepe: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Angeliki Miziou: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Athanasios Kyritsis: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Eudoxia Gogou: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Serafim Kalampokas: School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, GAIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Georgios Kalantzis: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece
Vaios S. Kotsios: Metsovion Interdisciplinary Research Center, National Technical University of Athens, 44200 Athens, Greece
Konstantinos I. Gourgoulianis: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, BIOPOLIS, 41110 Larissa, Greece

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-8

Abstract: Background: Antibody seroprevalence in rural communities remains poorly investigated. We compared the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in two Greek communities in June and July 2021 after the end of the Delta-driven pandemic wave that started in November 2020. One community was affected worse than the other. Methods: The SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant method (Architect, Abbott, IL, USA) was used for antibody testing. Results: We found a high rate of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in both communities, approaching 77.5%. In the area with a higher burden of COVID-19, Malesina, seropositivity was achieved with vaccine-acquired and naturally acquired immunity, whereas in the low-burden context of Domokos, the high rates of seropositivity were achieved mainly with vaccination. Previously infected individuals were less likely to be vaccinated than previously uninfected adults. The antibody titers were significantly higher in previously infected, vaccinated participants than in unvaccinated ones. In total, 4% and 10% of the unvaccinated population were diagnosed seropositive for the first time while not knowing about the previous infection. Age and gender did not impact antibody titers in high- or low-burden contexts. Conclusions: Before the Omicron pandemic wave, herd immunity was reached in different contexts in Greece. Higher antibody titers were measured in infected vaccinated individuals than in infected unvaccinated ones.

Keywords: antibody testing; Greece; semi-closed community; seroprevalence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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