Waning of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020: A 12-month-evaluation in three population-based European studies

Sophie Novelli, Christina Reinkemeyer, Dmitry Bulaev, Marc Paul O'Sullivan, Chantal J Snoeck, Armin Rauschenberger, Carmelite Manto, Alexey Kolodkin, Soumyabrata Ghosh, Venkata Satagopam, Jerome le Chenadec, Karine Barthelemy, Stephane Priet, Xavier de Lamballerie, Andreas Wieser, Inge Kroidl, Michel Vaillant, Laurence Meyer, Michael Hoelscher, Noemi CastellettiRejko Krüger, Josiane Warszawski, ORCHESTRA working group

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We described waning in anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in adult general populations infected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 across three European countries.

METHODS: Coordinated analyses were conducted separately in three population-based cohorts with complementary follow-up schedules: the KoCo19 (Germany), EpiCov (France), and CON-VINCE (Luxembourg) cohorts. Serological follow-up was based on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 ELISA-S IgG (Euroimmun) assay. We selected all adults aged 18-79 who had a positive serology (IgG optical density (OD) ratio ≥1.1) between February and July 2020, and at least one subsequent IgG measurement within the following 12 months, while still non-vaccinated.

RESULTS: The proportion of seroreversion was 0% within the four first months, based on Koco19 data (n = 65 participants). In the longer term, 31.3% of participants had seroreverted at 6 months (95%CI: 24.4-39.1) (based on EpiCov data, n = 599), 31.3% (95%CI: 11.0-58.7) at 12 months (based on CON-VINCE data, n = 16). From EpiCov data, both baseline low IgG levels and seroneutralization negativity remained predictive of seroreversion in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION: From population-based cohorts, anti-S IgG levels remained stable during the first 4 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Most of the decay occurred afterward; nearly one-third of people seroreverted 6 and 12 months later. Low IgG levels and seroneutralization negativity were independent predictors of seroreversion.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0320196
Number of pages15
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume20
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 9 May 2025
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Humans
  • COVID-19/epidemiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral/blood
  • Female
  • Male
  • SARS-CoV-2/immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G/blood
  • Aged
  • Adolescent
  • Young Adult
  • Europe/epidemiology
  • Pandemics

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