A Cross-Sectional Study of Exposure Factors Associated with Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies during the Second Epidemic Wave among a Sample of the University of Corsica (France)

Dorine Decarreaux (1, 2, 3) , Julie Sevila (1) , Shirley Masse (1) , Lisandru Capai (1) , Toscane Fourié (3) , Paola Mariela Saba Villarroel (3) , Abdennour Amroun (3) , Elif Nurtop (3) , Matthieu Vareille (1) , Marie Pouquet (2) , Thierry Blanchon (2) , Xavier De Lamballerie (3) , Rémi Charrel (3) , Alessandra Falchi (1)

1 UPP - Université Pascal Paoli
2 iPLESP - Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique
3 UVE - Unité des Virus Emergents

This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection within the staff and student populations of the University of Corsica (France) during the second wave of the epidemic. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 23 November 2020 to 31 January 2021. The participants underwent blood sampling using a fingerstick procedure and completed an anonymized questionnaire. Sera were tested for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG (ELISA-S) and, if positive, with an in-house virus neutralization test (VNT). Results: A total of 418 persons were included in the study. The overall seroprevalence was 12.8% (95% confidence interval (CI), 9.8\textendash 16.6%). A total of 15 (31%) of the 49 individuals who had a positive ELISA-S also had a positive VNT. Seropositivity was associated with living at the city campus during the week and on weekends (OR = 3.74 [1.40\textendash 12.00]), using public transportation/carpooling (OR = 2.00 [1.01\textendash 4.02]), and being in contact with a person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (OR = 2.32 [1.20\textendash 4.40]). The main symptoms associated with seropositivity were ``having had an acute respiratory infection'' (OR = 3.05 [1.43\textendash 6.43]) and ``experiencing loss of smell'' (OR = 16.4 [5.87\textendash 50.7]). Conclusion: These results could be useful for SARS-CoV-2 prevention and control on university campuses.

Domaines: Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]

Dorine Decarreaux, Julie Sevila, Shirley Masse, Lisandru Capai, Toscane Fourié, et al.. A Cross-Sectional Study of Exposure Factors Associated with Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies during the Second Epidemic Wave among a Sample of the University of Corsica (France). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022, 19 (4), pp.1953. ⟨10.3390/ijerph19041953⟩. ⟨hal-03888698⟩