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PREVALENCE OF ANTI-SARS-COV-2 IGG ANTIBODIES IN SKOPJE, NORTH MACEDONIA: TWO-TIME POINTS POPULATION-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Authors

  • Olgica Sibinovska Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Aleksandar Petlichkovski Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Teodora Brnjarchevska Blazhevska Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Todor Arsov Faculty of Medical Sciencies, University Goce Delchev in Shtip, Shtip, North Macedonia
  • Gorjan Milanovski Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Olivija Efinska Mladenovska Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Boban Dobrevski Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Stefani Iljoska Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Tamara Savevska Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Kristina Stamatovska Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Vangel Ristovski Institute of Medical Physiology and Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Dragica Bliznakovska Stanchev Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Sanja Kajevikj Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Elena Cvetkovska Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Dejan Trajkov Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
  • Danica Ćujić University of Belgrade, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy INEP, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Marija Gnjatović University of Belgrade, Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy INEP, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
  • Meri Kirijas Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 1000 Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia

Keywords:

COVID-19, seroprevalence, anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, population study

Abstract

The aim of our study was to determine the seroprevalence of IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia at two time points, February 2021, and February 2022 and to provide information about the dynamics of the collective immunity.

We recruited a total of 1004 in the first and 971 random individuals in the second time point who answered a questionnaire and IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against S and N antigen were measured.

The estimated overall seroprevalence in Skopje in February 2021 was 31.4%, with no statistical difference between different age groups or gender. Positive RT-PCR test or presence of symptoms associated with COVID-19 strongly correlated with presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (p<0.001). At the second time point the overall seroprevalence was 86.8%, somewhat higher in the group of participants vaccinated against COVID-19 with one of the six different vaccines compared to the unvaccinated group (89.9% vs. 75.8%, p<0.001). In the subgroup of individuals without prior positive RT-PCR test and unvaccinated, 69 out of 105 (65.7%) had IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Estimation of population seroprevalence is valuable information that reflect the immunization status of the population in the capitol of North Macedonia. However, the emergence of different subvariants of Omicron challenges the importance of collective immunity in prevention of new infection.

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2023-06-16

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Vol. 3 No. 2 (2023): Acad Med J

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Original Articles