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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 Castelletti
  • Rejko Krüger, Josiane Warszawski, ORCHESTRA working group

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

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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