HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1 seroprevalence and its relationship with the clinical features of COVID-19 patients from Villavicencio, Colombia

• Published in: Biomédica 2024-08, Vol.44 (3), p.340-354
• Main Authors: Lesmes-Rodríguez, Lida Carolina, Pedraza-Castillo, Luz Natalia, Jaramillo-Hernández, Dumar Alexander
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: betacoronavirus; coronavirus humano nl63; covid-19; inmunoensayo; Original; sars-cov-2
• ISSN: 0120-4157; 2590-7379
• DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.7168

Introduction. Due to the cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and common human coronaviruses, previous infections with these viruses could contribute to serological or cellular cross-protection against severe COVID-19. However, protective immunity may not develop, or pre-existing immunity could increase COVID-19 severity.Objective. To determine the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1 and correlate previous exposure with COVID-19 signs in patients from Villavicencio.Materials and methods. A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted. ELISA technique was used to search for IgG antibodies against HCoV-NL3 and HCoV-HKU1 inpatients with positive RT-qPCR results for SARS-CoV-2. Patients were grouped according to COVID-19 clinical characteristics in four groups: group 1: asymptomatic (n = 23); group 2: hospitalized (n = 24); group 3: intensive care units (n = 24), and group 4: dead (n = 22).Results. The overall seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against HCoV was 74.2% (n = 69; 95% CI: 65.3-83.1), with 66.7% of HCoV-NL63 (n = 62; 95% CI: 57,1-76,2), and 25.8% of HCoV-HKU1 (n = 24; 95% CI: 16,9-34,7). Based on crosstab analysis, prior exposure to HCoV-NL63 was associated with protection against severe COVID-19 (p = 0.042; adjusted OR = 0.159; 95% CI: 0.027-0.938), and previous coinfection of HCoV-NL63 and HCoVHKU1 was considered a positive association to severe COVID-19 (p = 0.048; adjusted OR = 16.704; 95% CI: 1.020 - 273.670).Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first study addressing seroprevalence of HCoV IgG antibodies in Colombia and Latin America. Previous exposure to HCoV-NL63 could protect against severe COVID-19, whereas patients with underlying HCoV-NL63 and HCoVHKU1 coinfection could be hospitalized with severe signs of COVID-19. Introducción. Debido a la reactividad cruzada entre SARS-CoV-2 y los coronavirus humanos comunes, las infecciones previas con estos virus podrían contribuir a la protección cruzada serológica o celular contra la COVID-19 grave. Sin embargo, la inmunidad protectora puede no desarrollarse o la inmunidad preexistente podría generar COVID-19 grave.Objetivo. Determinar la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos IgG frente a HCoV-NL63 y HCoVHKU1, y correlacionar su previa exposición con los signos de COVID-19 en pacientes de Villavicencio.Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo observacional analítico y transversal. Se utilizó la técnica ELISA para buscar anticuerpos IgG contra HCoV-NL3