Seroepidemiological studies: a cornerstone of public health strategies. Commentary

Well-designed population-based seroepidemiological studies can be useful to refine estimates of infectious agent transmission and disease severity, thus representing an important component of epidemiological surveillance. However, the interpretation of results may be hampered by heterogeneous data quality and the lack of standardized methodology in some cases. The development and use of highly sensitive and accurate tools, refined over the past decades, have facilitated the study of current and past exposure to infectious agents in target populations. In particular, seroepidemiological studies provide a detailed overview of past and current infection burdens (i.e., respiratory infectious diseases), helping to identify high-risk groups and biomarkers of disease severity. They also help to understand the evolutionary dynamics of the disease over time, providing crucial information on its spread and community impact. Investing time and resources in seroepidemiological studies is essential, not only for monitoring the population's immunological status, but also for implementing strategies that promote public health and predict future infectious diseases scenarios.