High transmission of endemic human coronaviruses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in adolescents in Cebu, Philippines.

BACKGROUND

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is a betacoronavirus belonging to the same genus as endemic human coronaviruses (hCoVs) OC43 and HKU1 and is distinct from alpha hCoVs 229E and NL63. In a study of adolescents in the Philippines, we evaluated seroprevalence to the hCoVs, whether pre-pandemic hCoV immunity modulated subsequent risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and if SARS-CoV-2 infection affected the transmission of the hCoVs.

METHODS

From 499 individuals screened in 2021 for SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain (RBD) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we randomly selected 59 SARS-CoV-2 negative and 61 positive individuals for further serological evaluation. We measured RBD and spike antibodies to the four hCoVs and SARS-CoV-2 by ELISA in samples from the same participants collected pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and mid-pandemic (2021), before COVID-19 vaccination.

RESULTS

We observed over 72% seropositivity to the four hCoVs pre-pandemic. Binding antibodies increased with age to 229E and OC43, suggesting endemic circulation, while antibody levels was flat across ages for HKU1 and NL63. During the COVID-19 pandemic, antibodies increased significantly to the RBDs of OC43, NL63, and 229E and spikes of all four hCoVs in both SARS-CoV-2 negative and positive adolescents. Those aged 12-15 years old in 2021 had higher antibodies to RBD and spike of OC43, NL63, and 229E than adolescents the same age in 2019, further demonstrating intense transmission of the hCoVs during the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

We observe a limited impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on endemic hCoV transmission. This study provides insight into co-circulation of hCoVs and SARS-CoV-2.