Seroprevalence Of SARS-COV-2 infection in asymptomatic indigenous from the largest Brazilian periurban area

PLoS One. 2023 Dec 22;18(12):e0295211. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295211. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

This study assessed the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in 496 asymptomatic individuals from Mato Grosso do Sul, located in Dourados, the largest periurban indigenous area in Brazil, from January 25 to February 4, 2021. The volunteers participated before receiving their first dose of the CoronaVac inactivated vaccine. For screening, blood samples were collected and analyzed using SARS-CoV-2 rapid tests and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We observed varying trends in total anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies across different variables. Seropositivity among the participants tested was 63.70% (316/496) using the rapid test and 52.82% (262/496) were positive using the ELISA method. The majority of participants identified with the Guarani-Kaiowá ethnic group, with 66.15% (217/328), and other ethnic groups with 58.84% (193/328). The median age of the subjects was 30.5 years, with 79.57% (261/328) being femaleThis research showed the elevated seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in asymptomatic Brazilians. The findings indicate a high seropositivity rate among the asymptomatic indigenous population of Midwest Brazil. This underscores the overlooked status of these communities and underscores the need for targeted national initiatives that emphasize the protection of vulnerable ethnic groups in the fight against COVID-19.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Asymptomatic Infections / epidemiology
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Ethnicity
  • Humans
  • Indigenous Peoples*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral

Supplementary concepts

  • Brazilian people

Grants and funding

Funding This work was partially funded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq grants 401727/2020–3). Governo do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. Secretaria do Estado de Saúde and Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD). L. A. O.; R.R.; L. O. C. L. M.; and S.S. received a research grant from CNPq. Sponsors did not take part in data collection, analysis and interpretation nor in manuscript writing. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, publication decision or preparation of the manuscript.