Dynamics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies post-COVID-19 in a Brazilian Amazon population

Abstract

Background In this study, the prevalence and persistence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus) IgG was evaluated in volunteers 90 days after COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) diagnosis by correlating response dynamics with clinical conditions, epidemiological characteristics, and disease severity. Methods The study recruited 200 volunteers aged 18 years or older of both sexes diagnosed with COVID-19. Of the 200 volunteers initially selected, the 135 individuals who underwent serological testing for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on the first visit to the laboratory, were invited to return, after 90 days, and provide a new blood sample for a second assessment of the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody. Disease severity and longevity of symptoms were evaluated for each individual and associated with the serological profile. Results Among the 135 individuals who underwent a previous serological test for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, 125 showed reactivity to IgG (92.6%). Of the 125 individuals with detectable IgG in the first test, 87 (69.6%) showed persistence of this antibody after 90 days and 38 (30.4%) lost IgG reactivity in the second evaluation. The frequency of all reported symptoms was higher in individuals who maintained IgG persistence after 90 days of symptoms. Symptom manifestations lasted ≥21 days in the group with a persistent IgG response (39.6%) and ≤ 7 days in the group with a nonpersistent IgG response (50.0%). The length of hospital stay and supplemental oxygen use were higher in individuals with a persistent IgG response. Conclusions The results of the present study show a high frequency of loss of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies within 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis in the Brazilian Amazon.

Performance verification of the Abbott SARS-CoV-2 test for qualitative detection of IgG in Cali, Colombia

“…In our study, sensitivity of the test in the subset of patients >60 days from symptom onset was 88%, indicating that IgG responses can be tracked in individuals during the first two months. This coincides with previous reports of a median half-life of antibodies detected by Abbott of 86 days [ 35 ], and a decay in seropositivity after 90 days reported in a Brazilian population evaluated with this test [ 39 ]. These aspects should be considered when analyzing and interpreting serosurveys conducted globally with the Abbott assay, since the true cumulative number of SARS-CoV-2 infections may be underestimated.…”

Persistence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM Antibody up to 8 Months Post-COVID-19

“…Additionally, in a longitudinal study, Peghin et al [10] observed IgM seroconversion in 90% of patients and its decline within 4 months. In our previous follow-up study, we reported a high frequency of loss of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies within 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis in the Brazilian Amazon, but without information about IgM [11].…”

Qualification of ELISA and neutralization methodologies to measure SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity using human clinical samples

“…Our collective understanding of the required magnitude and composition of a protective immune response against SARS-CoV-2 continues to develop. Early investigations of infection-induced responses for diagnostic purposes included evaluation of IgA, IgM and IgG humoral immunity ( Ma et al, 2020 ; Bichara et al, 2021 ; Maeda et al, 2021 ) and many commercial kits have been developed for these endpoints. SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA seems to be a high performing early diagnostic endpoint ( Ma et al, 2020 ; Sterlin et al, 2021 ), while the kinetics of post-infection IgM and IgG better reflect peak and waning immunity in convalescent cohorts ( Bichara et al, 2021 ; Duysburgh et al, 2021 ; De Greef et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Early investigations of infection-induced responses for diagnostic purposes included evaluation of IgA, IgM and IgG humoral immunity ( Ma et al, 2020 ; Bichara et al, 2021 ; Maeda et al, 2021 ) and many commercial kits have been developed for these endpoints. SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA seems to be a high performing early diagnostic endpoint ( Ma et al, 2020 ; Sterlin et al, 2021 ), while the kinetics of post-infection IgM and IgG better reflect peak and waning immunity in convalescent cohorts ( Bichara et al, 2021 ; Duysburgh et al, 2021 ; De Greef et al, 2021 ). Interestingly, some studies have observed pro-inflammatory IgG subsets (IgG1 and IgG3) trend higher with severity of clinical COVID-19 disease while others (IgG2 and IgG4) are rarely detected ( Yates et al, 2021 ; Luo et al, 2021 ).…”