Abstract
BackgroundThe SARS-CoV-2 infection has emerged as a rapidly spreading infection. Today it is relatively easy to isolate Covid-19 symptomatic cases, while remains problematic to control the disease spread by infected but symptom-free individuals. The control of this possible path of contagion requires drastic measures of social distancing, which imply the suspension of most activities and generate economic and social issues. This study is aimed at estimating the percentage of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in a geographic area with relatively low incidence of Covid-19.MethodsBlood serum samples from 388 healthy volunteers were analyzed for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG by using an ELISA assay based on recombinant viral nucleocapsid protein.ResultsWe found that 7 out of 388 healthy volunteers, who declared no symptoms of Covid-19, like fever, cough, fatigue etc., in the preceding 5 months, have bona fide serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, that is 1.8% of the asymptomatic population (95% confidence interval: 0.69–2.91%).ConclusionsThe estimated range of asymptomatic individuals with anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG should be between 26,565 and 112, 350. In the same geographic area, there are 4665 symptomatic diagnosed cases.
Highlights
Understanding the prevalence of asymptomatic individuals infected by SARS-CoV-2 is of crucial relevance, mainly due to the resurgence of pandemic that is occurring in the current autumn-winter season
Full list of author information is available at the end of the article control of this possible path of contagion requires drastic measures of social distancing, which imply the suspension of most activities and generate economic and social issues
The results showed that 7 out of 388 samples from healthy volunteers (HV) have values higher that 11 Units (Fig. 1), that is the positivity threshold value indicated by the Manufacturer
Summary
Understanding the prevalence of asymptomatic individuals infected by SARS-CoV-2 is of crucial relevance, mainly due to the resurgence of pandemic that is occurring in the current autumn-winter season. While it is relatively easy to isolate Covid-19 symptomatic cases, preventing them from infecting other individuals, it is problematic to control the spread of the disease by infected but symptom-free individuals [1,2,3]. Today it is relatively easy to isolate Covid-19 symptomatic cases, while remains problematic to control the disease spread by infected but symptom-free individuals. The control of this possible path of contagion requires drastic measures of social distancing, which imply the suspension of most activities and generate economic and social issues. This study is aimed at estimating the percentage of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in a geographic area with relatively low incidence of Covid-19
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