Seroreactivity to SARS-CoV-2 in individuals attending a university campus in Bogota Colombia

Gonzalez, J. M.; Santos-Barbosa, J. C.; Jaller, C.; Otalora, G.; Hernandez, L. J.; Guevara-Suarez, M.; Restrepo, S.

Most community-specific serological surveys for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies have been done in healthcare workers and institutions. In this study, IgG antibodies specific for the virus were evaluated in individuals working at one university in Bogota-Colombia. The aim of this work was to determine previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in those attending the campus during city lockdown. A total of 237 individuals including 93 women and 144 men were evaluated using chemiluminescent detection of IgG anti N-viral protein. There were 32 positives giving a seroprevalence of 13.5% (10 women and 22 men) and mostly asymptomatic (68.75%). Only 13 of the seropositive individuals had previous positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by RT-qPCR done in average 91 days before serological test. Seropositive individuals did not come from localities having higher percentages of SARS-CoV-2 cases in the city. Three cluster of seropositive individuals were identified. This survey was carried out after the first peak of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the city, and before the preparedness to reopening the campus for students in 2021. These results will help to develop some of the strategies stablished to control virus spread in the campus.