AUTHOR=Silva Ana Valesca Fernandes Gilson , Menezes Diego , Moreira Filipe Romero Rebello , Torres Octávio Alcântara , Fonseca Paula Luize Camargos , Moreira Rennan Garcias , Alves Hugo José , Alves Vivian Ribeiro , Amaral Tânia Maria de Resende , Coelho Adriano Neves , Saraiva Duarte Júlia Maria , da Rocha Augusto Viana , de Almeida Luiz Gonzaga Paula , de Araújo João Locke Ferreira , de Oliveira Hilton Soares , de Oliveira Nova Jersey Cláudio , Zolini Camila , de Sousa Jôsy Hubner , de Souza Elizângela Gonçalves , de Souza Rafael Marques , Ferreira Luciana de Lima , Lehmkuhl Gerber Alexandra , Guimarães Ana Paula de Campos , Maia Paulo Henrique Silva , Marim Fernanda Martins , Miguita Lucyene , Monteiro Cristiane Campos , Neto Tuffi Saliba , Pugêdo Fabrícia Soares Freire , Queiroz Daniel Costa , Queiroz Damares Nigia Alborguetti Cuzzuol , Resende-Moreira Luciana Cunha , Santos Franciele Martins , Souza Erika Fernanda Carlos , Voloch Carolina Moreira , Vasconcelos Ana Tereza , de Aguiar Renato Santana , de Souza Renan Pedra TITLE=Seroprevalence, Prevalence, and Genomic Surveillance: Monitoring the Initial Phases of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Betim, Brazil JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=13 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.799713 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.799713 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented need for epidemiological monitoring using diverse strategies. We conducted a project combining prevalence, seroprevalence, and genomic surveillance approaches to describe the initial pandemic stages in Betim City, Brazil. We collected 3239 subjects in a population-based age-, sex- and neighborhood-stratified, household, prospective; cross-sectional study divided into three surveys 21 days apart sampling the same geographical area. In the first survey, overall prevalence (participants positive in serological or molecular tests) reached 0.46% (90% CI 0.12–0.80%), followed by 2.69% (90% CI 1.88–3.49%) in the second survey and 6.67% (90% CI 5.42–7.92%) in the third. The underreporting reached 11, 19.6, and 20.4 times in each survey. We observed increased odds to test positive in females compared to males (OR 1.88 95% CI 1.25–2.82), while the single best predictor for positivity was ageusia/anosmia (OR 8.12, 95% CI 4.72–13.98). Thirty-five SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced, of which 18 were classified as lineage B.1.1.28, while 17 were B.1.1.33. Multiple independent viral introductions were observed. Integration of multiple epidemiological strategies was able to adequately describe COVID-19 dispersion in the city. Presented results have helped local government authorities to guide pandemic management.