The changing profile of SARS-CoV-2 serology in Irish blood donors.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the progression of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Ireland over the first three waves of infection. Method: A selection of blood donor serum samples collected between February 2020 and December 2021 were analysed by various commercially available serological assays for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (n = 15,066). Results: An increase in seropositivity was observed between wave 1 (February to September 2020) and wave 2 (November and December 2020) of 2.20% to 3.55%. A large increase in estimated seroprevalence to 11.89% was observed in samples collected in February and March 2021 (wave 3 of infection).The rate of seropositivity varied by age group, with the highest rate observed in the youngest donors (18-29 years) peaking at 18.79% in wave 3. The results of spike antibody (anti-S) testing indicated that 44/1009 (4.36%) of seroreactive donors in wave 3 had a serological profile consistent with vaccination. By November 2021, we detected an overall seropositivity of 97.04%. Conclusions: The present study provides a comprehensive estimation of the level of circulating SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Irish blood donors, enabling differentiation between vaccination and natural infection, as well as real-time monitoring of the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. Seroepidemiology has a role in determining reliable estimates of transmission, infection fatality rates and vaccine uptake. The continued screening of blood donors for this purpose has the potential to generate important data to assist with the management of future waves of SARS-CoV-2.

Confirmed circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Irish blood donors prior to first national notification of infection.

INTRODUCTION: Blood donor studies offer a unique opportunity to screen healthy populations for the presence of antibodies to emerging infections. We describe the use of blood donor specimens to track the 'first-wave' of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. METHODOLOGY: A random selection of donor samples received by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) between February and September 2020 (n = 8,509) were screened by multiple commercial SARs-CoV-2 antibody assays. The antibody detection rate was adjusted to the population to determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Ireland. RESULTS: SARS-CoV-2 antibody detection rose significantly during the first peak of COVID-19 infection, increasing from 0.3% in March, to 2.9% in April (p < 0.0001, The first SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive donor samples were collected on the 17th February 2020, 2 weeks prior to the first official notification. This is the earliest serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in the Irish population. Our results also show a significantly higher antibody prevalence in the Capital city and in donors less than 40 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates evidence of SARS-CoV-2 antibody reactivity across all age groups and counties. The critical value of blood donor seroprevalence studies is apparent in this report which identified the earliest serological evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Ireland, as well as documenting the evolution of COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland over time.

Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 in Ireland among blood donors, men who have sex with men, and heterosexual genitourinary medicine and infectious diseases clinic attendees.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) seroprevalence varies geographically and between subpopulations. High seroprevalence rates have been ascribed to men who have sex with men (MSM), African migrants, and HIV-infected individuals. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HHV-8 in an Irish population, including specific risk groups. A cross-sectional study of 200 blood donors and 200 genitourinary medicine (GUM) and infectious diseases (ID) clinic patients was performed, with testing for Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to HHV-8 lytic antigens using a commercial indirect fluorescence assay (Scimedx Corp.). Verification was performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). All 200 blood donor samples were negative for HHV-8 IgG antibodies. 21% of GUM and ID patients were positive for HHV-8 IgG antibodies. One hundred of these patients were MSM, 35% of whom were HHV-8 seropositive (46% of HIV-positive MSM and 24% of HIV-negative MSM). Of 100 heterosexual patients, only 7% were HHV-8 seropositive. The absence of seropositivity in 200 Irish blood donors may suggest that Ireland has a low overall population HHV-8 seroprevalence. The proportion of HHV-8 seropositivity in the MSM population was significantly higher than in the heterosexual population and most marked in HIV-positive MSM.

Isolates of Uromyces appendiculatus with Specific Virulence to Landraces of Phaseolus vulgaris of Andean Origin.

Five isolates of the bean rust fungus Uromyces appendiculatus were shown to be specifically virulent on bean genotypes of Andean origin. This specificity was demonstrated by the virulence of five pairs of isolates on a differential set of 30 Phaseolus vulgaris landraces. Each isolate pair was from a different country in the Americas and consisted of one Andean-specific isolate and one nonspecific isolate. Of the differential P. vulgaris landraces, 15 were of Middle American origin and 15 were of Andean origin. The Andean-specific rust isolates were highly virulent on Andean landraces but not on landraces of Middle American origin. Rust isolates with virulence to Middle American landraces were also generally virulent on Andean material; no truly Middle American-specific isolates were found. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of the rust isolates also distinguished the two groups. Four of the Andean-specific rust isolates formed a distinct group compared to four of the nonspecific isolates. Two of the isolates, one from each of the two virulence groups, had intermediate RAPD banding patterns, suggesting that plasmagomy but not karyogamy occurred between isolates of the two groups.