Serological study of coronavirus antibodies in Hamburg.
A serological study of coronaviruses with the OC 43 agent (HI-test) was undertaken in 1000 sera from the population of Hamburg. 32,7% of the sera showed HI=titers between 1 : 8 and 1 : 128. The geometric mean titer (GMT) for the whole group was 1 : 16. The frequency of seropositive reactions was highest in 244 individuals 15 to 24 years old (52,8% positive reactions, GMT 1 : 19) whilst in the older age groups (25-59 years and over 60 years old) the precentage of positive reactors was markedly lower (14,4% and 16,8%, respectively, GMT 1 : 12). Among 131 twelve to 17 years old youngsters, a seroconversion was demonstrated in paired sera in 6,8% with a 4- to 8-fold rise in HI-titer within 8 weeks.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003332:Coronaviridae / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy
D000914:Antibodies, Viral