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Background: Prevalence of seropositivity following SARS-CoV-2 infection is vital in evaluating herd immunity. However, depending on illness severity, it remains unclear whether the breadth and magnitude of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is for short or long term. Objective: To test the persistence of humoral antibody responses after SARS-CoV-2 exposure in patients with different illness severity and among volunteers who had been vaccinated. Methods: This study was conducted in two Saudi Arabian tertiary hospitals. Participants were categorized as critically ill COVID-19 patients, non-critically ill COVID-19 patients, or vaccinated volunteers. We collected demographic data, COVID-19 exposure history, symptoms, vaccination details, and serum samples to analyze antibody persistence. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations in COVID-19 patients with varying disease severity and age groups, as well as in BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals, focusing on IgG levels against the S.FL and S1 domains of the spike protein. Results: The study included 172 adults: 92 unvaccinated hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 80 vaccinated volunteers. All vaccinated subjects demonstrated seropositivity to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, with nearly 80% having a median antibody titer of 13,500 AU/mL. Notably, vaccinated subjects exhibited significantly higher IgG levels than naturally infected patients (P < 0.001), including higher S.FL and S1 titers, regardless of severity. Age, comorbidities, and previous infections influenced S-specific antibody levels. Among hospitalized patients, 58% required intensive care, with 28- and 90-day mortality rates of 23% and 43%, respectively. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the immune response dynamics following SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to vaccinated individuals, where the latter showed significantly higher level of antibodies response, providing crucial insights for evaluating short-term herd immunity and the effectiveness of natural infection-induced immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prevalence of seropositivity following SARS-CoV-2 infection is vital in evaluating herd immunity. However, depending on illness severity, it remains unclear whether the breadth and magnitude of immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is for short or long term. Objective: To test the persistence of humoral antibody responses after SARS-CoV-2 exposure in patients with different illness severity and among volunteers who had been vaccinated. Methods: This study was conducted in two Saudi Arabian tertiary hospitals. Participants were categorized as critically ill COVID-19 patients, non-critically ill COVID-19 patients, or vaccinated volunteers. We collected demographic data, COVID-19 exposure history, symptoms, vaccination details, and serum samples to analyze antibody persistence. We evaluated SARS-CoV-2 antibody concentrations in COVID-19 patients with varying disease severity and age groups, as well as in BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals, focusing on IgG levels against the S.FL and S1 domains of the spike protein. Results: The study included 172 adults: 92 unvaccinated hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 80 vaccinated volunteers. All vaccinated subjects demonstrated seropositivity to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, with nearly 80% having a median antibody titer of 13,500 AU/mL. Notably, vaccinated subjects exhibited significantly higher IgG levels than naturally infected patients (P < 0.001), including higher S.FL and S1 titers, regardless of severity. Age, comorbidities, and previous infections influenced S-specific antibody levels. Among hospitalized patients, 58% required intensive care, with 28- and 90-day mortality rates of 23% and 43%, respectively. Conclusion: These findings shed light on the immune response dynamics following SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to vaccinated individuals, where the latter showed significantly higher level of antibodies response, providing crucial insights for evaluating short-term herd immunity and the effectiveness of natural infection-induced immunity.

Acute genital ulcers can affect females of all ages. In children, they often appear as an emergency and remain a diagnostic challenge for pediatricians, gynecologists and dermatologists. Prompt diagnosis and identification of disease- related factors help to implement appropriate treatment. Firstly, it is crucial to properly compile the past medical history of the patient. Past infectious, autoimmune, malignant or traumatic conditions, as well as vaccinations may contribute to the occurrence of acute genital ulcers. Moreover, new infectious agents, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and vaccinations against Coronavirus disease of 2019, may play a significant role in the development of atypical clinical symptoms. Here we present a case of a 12-year-old girl with acute genital ulcers. Additional symptoms accompanying the ulcer included: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dysuria, vulvar pain and fever. Blood test showed leukocytosis, especially neutrophilia and monocytosis and increased levels of c-reactive protein and procalcitonin. Serological tests for the most common infections were negative. Moreover, the patient had a history of autoimmune diseases. She had periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome, and IgA vasculitis, also known as Henoch-Schönlein purpura in her past medical history. Additionally, she was vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 shortly before the lesions appeared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]