Prevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Specific Antibodiesin Health-Care Workers Compared to GeneralPopulation, Tehran-Iran

摘要

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV-2) rapidly transmit in general population, mainlybetween health-care workers (HCWs) who are in close contact withpatients. To study the seropositivity of HCWs as a highrisk group compared to general population.Methods: 72 samples were obtained from HCWs working in MasihDaneshvari hospital as one of the main COVID-19 admissioncenters in Tehran, during April 4 to 6, 2020. Also we collected2021 blood samples from general population. The SARS-CoV-2specific IgM, and IgG antibodies in the collected serum specimenswere measured by commercial ELISA kits.Results: Based on the clinical manifestations, 25.0%, 47.2%,and 27.8% of HCWs were categorized as symptomatic withtypical symptoms, symptomatic with atypical symptoms, andasymptomatic, respectively. Symptomatic individuals with typicaland atypical symptoms were 63.2% and 36.8% positive in RTPCR test, respectively. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodieswere detected in 15.3% and 27.8% of HCWs samples, respectively.Antibody testing in the general population indicated that SARSCoV-2 specific IgM and IgG were found in (162/2021) 8%, and(290/2021) 14.4%, respectively. The frequency of positive cases ofIgM and IgG were significantly increased in HCWs compared togeneral population (p= 0.028 for IgM and p= 0.002 for IgG).Conclusion: The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies inHCWs was higher than general population indicating a higher viraltransmission via close exposure with COVID-19 patients.