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327338

ESTIMATING EXPOSURE TO SARS-COV-2 AT THE ARAB INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, SYRIA: A SNAPSHOT AFTER A YEAR OF PANDEMIC

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Last updated: 04 Jan 2025

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Abstract

Background: After a year of pandemic in Syria, how prevalent the seropositivity is, and how far we are from herd immunity is a raised question. Aim: Our study aimed to estimate the overall exposure to SARS-COV-2 depending on the COVID-19-specific symptoms as well as the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among students and staff at the Arab International University (AIU) in Syria. Methods: All AIU students and staff were invited to voluntarily participate in the study by filling out and submitting an anonymous web-based survey. Responses were evaluated then asymptomatic and pauci-symptomatic respondents were notified of a phlebotomy appointment. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were analyzed by ELISA. Results: One third (122 of 381; 32%) of respondents were asymptomatic. The remaining respondents reported COVID-19-specific symptoms (177 of 381; 46.5%), mainly anosmia and/or ageusia (132 of 177; 74.5%), or nonspecific symptoms (82 of 381; 21.5%). Frequencies of symptoms onset showed a strong, positive correlation with the incidence of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive cases reported by the Ministry of Health in Syria. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies were similarly detected in both symptomatic (21 of 33; 63.6%) and asymptomatic (39 of 61; 63.9%) individuals (P=.97). Conclusions: After a year of pandemic, a 69% exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is roughly estimated amongst asymptomatic and pauci-symptomatic individuals. Further post-vaccination assessment of seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 in future large-scale studies might provide a more complete picture of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Syria.

DOI

10.21608/bfsa.2023.327338

Keywords

COVID-19, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, Asymptomatic, seroprevalence, exposure, Syria

Authors

First Name

Wafika

Last Name

Zarzour

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Biochemistry and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Arab International University, Daraa, Syria

Email

w-zarzour@aiu.edu.sy

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Wafika

Last Name

Zarzour

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Biochemistry and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Arab International University, Daraa, Syria

Email

w-habbal@aiu.edu.sy

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Alaa

Last Name

Oraige

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Biochemistry and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Arab International University, Daraa, Syria

Email

a-erage@aiu.edu.sy

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Ahmad

Last Name

Ganama

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Biochemistry and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Arab International University, Daraa, Syria

Email

a-kaname@aiu.edu.sy

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Raghad

Last Name

Serri

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Biochemistry and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Arab International University, Daraa, Syria

Email

r-serri@aiu.edu.sy

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

46

Article Issue

2

Related Issue

44483

Issue Date

2023-12-01

Receive Date

2023-01-31

Publish Date

2023-12-01

Page Start

1,161

Page End

1,168

Print ISSN

1110-0052

Online ISSN

3009-7703

Article File

BFSA_Volume 46_Issue 2_Pages 1161-1168.pdf

PDF . 761.3kB

Link

https://bpsa.journals.ekb.eg/article_327338.html

Detail API

https://bpsa.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=327338

Order

327,338

Type

Original Article

Type Code

1,096

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Bulletin of Pharmaceutical Sciences Assiut University

Publication Link

https://bpsa.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

ESTIMATING EXPOSURE TO SARS-COV-2 AT THE ARAB INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, SYRIA: A SNAPSHOT AFTER A YEAR OF PANDEMIC

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Article

Created At

25 Dec 2024