Prevalence of SARS -CoV-2 IgG/IgM antibodies among patients in Zakho City, Kurdistan, Iraq

Authors

  • Ali Yahya Saeed Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Mahde Saleh Assafi Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Hemin Esmael Othman Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
  • Hogir Mohammed Shukri Directorate of Akre Education, General Directorate of Duhok Education, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.15825

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2, IgG/IgM, symptomatic, asymptomatic

Abstract

Introduction: In 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), spread all over the world. This global pandemic spread rapidly to more than 195 countries and caused over 200 million infections with a mortality rate of 2%. This study aimed to detect seropositivity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus among outpatients, symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.

Methodology: A total of 489 individuals of age 5-70 years (mean 38.0 ± 17 SD) were enrolled for a cross-sectional study. They were tested for presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 IgM/IgG antibodies in serum samples using Enzyme-linked Immunofluorescent Assay (ALFA).

Results: A higher seroprevalence was recorded for IgM among females (34.96%) than males (28.83%). In the case of IgG, and IgG + IgM, both males and females had similar values. A significant correlation was identified between seropositivity and age; higher seropositivity (IgG, IgM, and IgG + IgM) was recorded in age groups 51-60 and ≥ 61 years, relative to the younger age groups. No significant correlation was found between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. No significant correlation was detected between seropositivity and RT-PCR positive and negative cases.

Conclusions: COVID-19 is spreading rapidly and there is a high percentage of asymptomatic carriers. The sensitivity of RT-PCR tests is not uniform and may not be able to detect all cases. On the other hand, serology can be used for large scale testing to detect the real extent to which the disease has spread.

Author Biography

Mahde Saleh Assafi, Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Duhok, Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Department of biology, Faculty of sciences, university of Zakho

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Published

2022-07-28

How to Cite

1.
Saeed AY, Assafi MS, Othman HE, Shukri HM (2022) Prevalence of SARS -CoV-2 IgG/IgM antibodies among patients in Zakho City, Kurdistan, Iraq. J Infect Dev Ctries 16:1126–1130. doi: 10.3855/jidc.15825

Issue

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic