PLoS ONE (Jan 2023)

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

  • Laís Albuquerque de Oliveira,
  • Marcelo Dos Santos Barbosa,
  • Alex José Leite Torres,
  • Mariana Garcia Croda,
  • Bruna Oliveira da Silva,
  • Paulo César Pereira Dos Santos,
  • Regina Rossoni,
  • Layla Oliveira Campos Leite Machado,
  • Julio Croda,
  • Crhistinne Cavalheiro Maymone Gonçalves,
  • Michele Ferreira Marques,
  • Tiago da Silva Ferreira,
  • Silvia Inês Sardi,
  • Gubio Soares Campos,
  • Gabriel Barroso de Almeida,
  • Marilia Maria Alves Gomes,
  • Silvana Beutinger Marchioro,
  • Simone Simionatto

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0295211
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 12
p. e0295211

Abstract

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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.