Considering feco-oral transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV), the risk of the infection was assessed among sewage workers. On the basis of the close contact with sewage, the participants (n = 147) were divided into sewage workers (n = 92) and others (n = 55); none used personal protective equipment (eg, coveralls, boots, gloves) Age-matched individuals from lower socioeconomic status and without any exposure to sewage were used as controls. IgG-anti-HEV positivity in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was significantly higher (P < 0.01) among staff members (83/147, 56.5%) than the controls (19%). A significant rise in anti-HEV positivity (P < 0.05) was recorded in sewage workers working for >5 years. Multivariate regression analysis identified contact with sewage as the independent variable associated with anti-HEV positivity. Strict adherence to good working practices must take top priority for protection of these workers from sewage pathogens.

Background & objectives: The global pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus has challenged public health system worldwide due to the unavailability of approved preventive and therapeutic options. Identification of neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and understanding their role is important. However, the data on kinetics of NAb response among COVID-19 patients are unclear. To understand the NAb response in COVID-19 patients, we compared the findings of microneutralization test (MNT) and plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) for the SARS-CoV-2. Further, the kinetics of NAb response among COVID-19 patients was assessed. Methods: A total of 343 blood samples (89 positive, 58 negative for SARS-CoV-2 and 17 cross-reactive and 179 serum from healthy individuals) were collected and tested by MNT and PRNT. SARS-CoV-2 virus was prepared by propagating the virus in Vero CCL-81 cells. The intra-class correlation was calculated to assess the correlation between MNT and PRNT. The neutralizing endpoint as the reduction in the number of plaque count by 90 per cent (PRNT 90 ) was also calculated. Results: The analysis of MNT and PRNT quantitative results indicated that the intra-class correlation was 0.520. Of the 89 confirmed COVID-19 patients, 64 (71.9%) showed NAb response. Interpretation & conclusions: The results of MNT and PRNT were specific with no cross-reactivity. In the early stages of infection, the NAb response was observed with variable antibody kinetics. The neutralization assays can be used for titration of NAb in recovered/vaccinated or infected COVID-19 patients.

Currently, the world is witnessing the pandemic of COVID-19, a disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Reported differences in clinical manifestations and outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 infection could be attributed to factors such as virus replication, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and altered cytokine production. Virus-induced aberrant and excessive cytokine production has been linked to the morbidity and mortality of several viral infections. Using a Luminex platform, we investigated plasma cytokine and chemokine levels of 27 analytes from hospitalized asymptomatic ( n = 39) and mildly symptomatic ( n = 35) SARS-CoV-2-infected patients (in the early phase of infection), recovered individuals (45-60 days postinfection) ( n = 40), and uninfected controls ( n = 36) from the city of Pune located in the state of Maharashtra in India. Levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and the chemokine CXCL-10 were significantly higher, while those of the antiviral cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12 p70 were significantly lower in both asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients than in controls. Comparison among the patient categories revealed no difference in the levels of the cytokines/chemokines except for CXCL-10 being significantly higher and IL-17, IL-4, and VEGF being significantly lower in the mildly symptomatic patients. Interestingly, levels of all key analytes were significantly lower in recovered individuals than in those in both patient categories. Nevertheless, the level of CXCL10 was significantly higher in the recovered patients than in the controls, indicating that the immune system of SARS-CoV-2 patients may take a longer time to normalize. Our data suggest that IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, CXCL-10, and reduced antiviral cytokines could be used as biomarkers of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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The pandemic of COVID‐19 has caused enormous fatalities worldwide. Serological assays are important for detection of asymptomatic or mild cases of COVID‐19, and sero‐prevalence and vaccine efficacy studies. Here, we evaluated and compared the performance of seven commercially available enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)s for detection of anti‐severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) immunoglobulin G (IgG). The ELISAs were evaluated with a characterized panel of 100 serum samples from qRT‐PCR confirmed COVID‐19 patients, collected 14 days post onset disease, 100 SARS‐CoV‐2 negative samples and compared the results with that of neutralization assay. Results were analysed by creating the receiver operating characteristic curve of all the assays in reference to the neutralization assay. All kits, were found to be suitable for detection of IgG against SARS‐CoV‐2 with high accuracy. The DiaPro COVID‐19 IgG ELISA showed the highest sensitivity (98%) among the kits. The assays demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting the IgG antibodies against SARS‐CoV‐2. However, the presence of IgG antibodies does not always correspond to neutralizing antibodies. Due to their good accuracy indices, these assays can also aid in tracing mild infections, in cohort studies and in pre‐vaccine evaluations.