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?:abstract
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Although the COVID‐19 pandemic peaked in March/April 2020 in France, the prevalence of infection is barely known. Using high‐throughput methods, we assessed herein the serological response against the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus of 1847 participants working in three sites of an institution in Paris conurbation. In May‐July 2020, 11% (95% CI: 9.7–12.6) of serums were positive for IgG against the SARS‐CoV‐2 N and S proteins, and 9.5% (CI:8.2–11.0) were neutralizer in pseudo‐typed virus assays. The prevalence of seroconversion was 11.6% (CI:10.2–13.2) when considering positivity in at least one assays. In 5% of RT‐qPCR positive individuals, no systemic IgGs were detected. Among immune individuals, 21% had been asymptomatic. Anosmia (loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of taste) occurred in 52% of the IgG‐positive individuals and in 3% of the negative ones. In contrast, 30% of the anosmia‐ageusia cases were seronegative suggesting that the true prevalence of infection may have reached 16.6%. In sera obtained 4–8 weeks after the first sampling anti‐N and anti‐S IgG titers and neutralization activity in pseudo‐virus assay declined by 31%, 17% and 53%, resulting thus in half‐life of respectively 35, 87 and 28 days. The population studied is representative of active workers in Paris. The short lifespan of the serological systemic responses suggests an underestimation of the true prevalence of infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
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