SARS-CoV-2 Seroconversion in Response to Infection and Vaccination: a Time Series Local Study in Brazil

The investigation of antibodies raised against different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) antigens can help to determine the extent of previous SARS-CoV-2 infections in the population and track the humoral response to vaccination. Therefore, serological surveys can provide key information to better manage the pandemic and/or to implement the most effective vaccination program. Here we describe a time series anti-nucleocapsid, anti-spike IgG serological survey analysis in the city of Matinhos, PR, Brazil during the year of 2021. Seroconversion rates to the nucleocapsid antigen were not influenced by gender or age. The serological data support that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection rate is ~50% higher than official numbers. Furthermore, by applying serological data, the corrected infection fatality rate was estimated to be lower than 2.4% in contrast with the official estimative of 3.6%. The rates of IgG reactive to spike antigen resembled the curve of the fraction the population that had taken the second vaccine dose. Up to 82% of spike seroconversion was detected in the end of 2021, confirming the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination program in the city. This SARS-CoV-2 serological study unraveled the SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and the response to vaccination in the city of Matinhos. IMPORTANCE The investigation of antibodies raised against SARS-CoV-2 can help to determine the extent of previous SARS-CoV-2 infections and track the humoral response to vaccination. Here we describe a time series anti-nucleocapsid, anti-spike IgG serological survey in the city of Matinhos, PR, Brazil during the year of 2021. The data depicted the progression of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the city allowing the correction of the number of citizens who experienced COVID-19 and the disease fatality rate. The seroconversion rates to the spike antigen resembled the curve of the fraction of the population that had taken the second vaccine dose, thereby confirming the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination program in the city.