Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in patients with hepatitis B and C: a pre-vaccination study

Braz J Infect Dis. 2024 May-Jun;28(3):103740. doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2024.103740. Epub 2024 Apr 23.

Abstract

The serological markers for the diagnosis of COVID-19 plays an important role in the epidemiological investigation of the pandemic. This study aims to assess the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in hepatitis B and C patients in a pre-vaccination of COVID-19 period. Between March 2020 and January 2021, 199 serum samples from individuals with HBsAg/HBV DNA or anti-HCV/HCV RNA positivity were tested for antibodies (IgM and IgG) against SARS-CoV-2 using Electrochemiluminescent Immunoassay (ECLIA). Among these, 50.3 % (100/199) tested positive for hepatitis C virus infection and 49.7 % (99/199) for hepatitis B virus, confirmed through molecular and serological diagnosis. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 24.1 % (48/199) in this population, with 23.23 % (23/99) hepatitis B and 25 % (25/100) hepatitis C patients tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2. The higher seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 (16.58 %, 33/199) was detected among those over-40 years of age and the month of November 2020 had the highest number of detections 9 % (18/199) with the majority living in impoverished and neglected neighborhoods in the city of Rio de Janeiro. We found a high prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in patients with viral hepatitis before COVID-19 vaccination. This demonstrates the high exposure of this population during the period of social isolation.

Keywords: Antibodies; COVID-19; Hepatitis; Seroprevalence.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral* / blood
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / immunology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B* / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis B* / immunology
  • Hepatitis B* / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis C* / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • SARS-CoV-2* / immunology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M