Seroprevalence of RSV IgG Antibodies Across Age Groups in Poland After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the 2023/2024 Epidemic Season
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections across all age groups, with the greatest burden observed in young children and older adults. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted RSV circulation, resulting in an immunit...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Barbara Poniedziałek Wiktoria Majewska Katarzyna Kondratiuk Aleksander Masny Anna Poznańska Karol Szymański Katarzyna Łuniewska Emilia Czajkowska Bartosz Mańkowski Lidia B. Brydak Krzysztof Tomasiewicz Robert Flisiak Piotr Rzymski |
| author_facet | Barbara Poniedziałek Wiktoria Majewska Katarzyna Kondratiuk Aleksander Masny Anna Poznańska Karol Szymański Katarzyna Łuniewska Emilia Czajkowska Bartosz Mańkowski Lidia B. Brydak Krzysztof Tomasiewicz Robert Flisiak Piotr Rzymski |
| author_sort | Barbara Poniedziałek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections across all age groups, with the greatest burden observed in young children and older adults. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted RSV circulation, resulting in an immunity gap and altered transmission dynamics. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of anti-RSV IgG antibodies in the Polish population during the 2023/2024 epidemic season. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize RSV seroprevalence at the population level in Poland. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 700 serum samples from individuals across different age groups were analyzed using a commercial assay to detect anti-RSV IgG antibodies. Seroprevalence and antibody levels, expressed as the index of positivity (IP), were examined by age and sex. <b>Results:</b> The overall seroprevalence of anti-RSV IgG antibodies was 91.4%. Antibody positivity increased markedly from 35.5% in infants aged 0–1 years to over 90% in children aged 4–5 years, reaching nearly universal levels in older age groups, including 99.1% in adults aged ≥60 years. Median IP values also rose with age, peaking in individuals aged ≥60 years. No significant differences in seroprevalence were observed between sexes, though older men showed slightly higher median IP values, potentially reflecting greater cumulative RSV exposure. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study provides key insights into the post-pandemic landscape of RSV immunity in Poland. The high seroprevalence across most age groups underscores widespread prior exposure, while the lower rates in infants highlight a continued vulnerability. These findings support the development and implementation of targeted immunization strategies, particularly for infants and older adults. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c24f5d20ecf54bca88093938952d9947 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj-art-c24f5d20ecf54bca88093938952d99472025-08-20T03:13:54ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2025-07-0113774110.3390/vaccines13070741Seroprevalence of RSV IgG Antibodies Across Age Groups in Poland After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the 2023/2024 Epidemic SeasonBarbara Poniedziałek0Wiktoria Majewska1Katarzyna Kondratiuk2Aleksander Masny3Anna Poznańska4Karol Szymański5Katarzyna Łuniewska6Emilia Czajkowska7Bartosz Mańkowski8Lidia B. Brydak9Krzysztof Tomasiewicz10Robert Flisiak11Piotr Rzymski12Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Virology, National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute, 00-791 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Virology, National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute, 00-791 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Population Health Monitoring and Analysis, National Institute of Public Health NIH—National Research Institute, 00-791 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Virology, National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute, 00-791 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Virology, National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute, 00-791 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Virology, National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute, 00-791 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Virology, National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute, 00-791 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Virology, National Institute of Public Health NIH-National Research Institute, 00-791 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-540 Białystok, PolandDepartment of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznań, Poland<b>Background/Objectives:</b> Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of respiratory infections across all age groups, with the greatest burden observed in young children and older adults. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted RSV circulation, resulting in an immunity gap and altered transmission dynamics. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of anti-RSV IgG antibodies in the Polish population during the 2023/2024 epidemic season. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize RSV seroprevalence at the population level in Poland. <b>Methods:</b> A total of 700 serum samples from individuals across different age groups were analyzed using a commercial assay to detect anti-RSV IgG antibodies. Seroprevalence and antibody levels, expressed as the index of positivity (IP), were examined by age and sex. <b>Results:</b> The overall seroprevalence of anti-RSV IgG antibodies was 91.4%. Antibody positivity increased markedly from 35.5% in infants aged 0–1 years to over 90% in children aged 4–5 years, reaching nearly universal levels in older age groups, including 99.1% in adults aged ≥60 years. Median IP values also rose with age, peaking in individuals aged ≥60 years. No significant differences in seroprevalence were observed between sexes, though older men showed slightly higher median IP values, potentially reflecting greater cumulative RSV exposure. <b>Conclusions:</b> This study provides key insights into the post-pandemic landscape of RSV immunity in Poland. The high seroprevalence across most age groups underscores widespread prior exposure, while the lower rates in infants highlight a continued vulnerability. These findings support the development and implementation of targeted immunization strategies, particularly for infants and older adults.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/7/741respiratory syncytial virusseroprevalenceepidemic seasoninfectious diseaserespiratory infection |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Poniedziałek Wiktoria Majewska Katarzyna Kondratiuk Aleksander Masny Anna Poznańska Karol Szymański Katarzyna Łuniewska Emilia Czajkowska Bartosz Mańkowski Lidia B. Brydak Krzysztof Tomasiewicz Robert Flisiak Piotr Rzymski Seroprevalence of RSV IgG Antibodies Across Age Groups in Poland After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the 2023/2024 Epidemic Season Vaccines respiratory syncytial virus seroprevalence epidemic season infectious disease respiratory infection |
| title | Seroprevalence of RSV IgG Antibodies Across Age Groups in Poland After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the 2023/2024 Epidemic Season |
| title_full | Seroprevalence of RSV IgG Antibodies Across Age Groups in Poland After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the 2023/2024 Epidemic Season |
| title_fullStr | Seroprevalence of RSV IgG Antibodies Across Age Groups in Poland After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the 2023/2024 Epidemic Season |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroprevalence of RSV IgG Antibodies Across Age Groups in Poland After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the 2023/2024 Epidemic Season |
| title_short | Seroprevalence of RSV IgG Antibodies Across Age Groups in Poland After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data from the 2023/2024 Epidemic Season |
| title_sort | seroprevalence of rsv igg antibodies across age groups in poland after the covid 19 pandemic data from the 2023 2024 epidemic season |
| topic | respiratory syncytial virus seroprevalence epidemic season infectious disease respiratory infection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/7/741 |
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