Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in radio and television workers

Paulo Ricardo Martins-Filho; Danilo Nobre da Silva; Danillo Menezes Dos Santos; Márcia Santos Rezende; Jessica Paloma Rosa Silva; Josafá Bonifácio da Silva Neto; Dulce Marta Schimieguel; Lucindo José Quintans-Júnior; Jullyana de Souza Siqueira Quintans; Paula Santos Nunes; Adriano Antunes de Souza Araújo

doi:10.17179/excli2021-4545

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in radio and television workers

EXCLI J. 2022 Jan 12:21:269-272. doi: 10.17179/excli2021-4545. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Paulo Ricardo Martins-Filho^{1

2}, Danilo Nobre da Silva³, Danillo Menezes Dos Santos², Márcia Santos Rezende⁴, Jessica Paloma Rosa Silva⁵, Josafá Bonifácio da Silva Neto⁶, Dulce Marta Schimieguel^{3

4}, Lucindo José Quintans-Júnior^{2

3}, Jullyana de Souza Siqueira Quintans², Paula Santos Nunes², Adriano Antunes de Souza Araújo^{2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil.
² Health Sciences Graduate Program, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil.
³ Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil.
⁴ Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, São Cristóvão, Sergipe, Brazil.
⁵ Graduate Program in Applied Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto, Sergipe, Brazil.
⁶ Journalism Sector, Radio UFS, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil.

Abstract

We investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in individuals working in radio and television stations (TV) in Sergipe state, Northeast Brazil. This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1 to December 20, 2020, a period which was considered as the beginning of the second wave of COVID-19 in the state. One hundred and thirteen professionals from the three largest media companies in the state were included in this study. Venous blood was collected using venipuncture and a fluorescence immunoassay for qualitative detection and differentiation of IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was performed. Twenty-eight media workers had detectable levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (11 IgM+, 6 IgM+/ IgG+, and 11 IgG+) and the estimated seroprevalence was 24.8 % (95 % CI 17.7 - 33.5). Our findings showed a high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in radio and TV workers during the second wave of COVID-19 in Brazil.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; mass media.