Serological cross-reactivity using a SARS-CoV-2 ELISA test in acute Zika virus infection, Colombia

Highlights • Colombia as an endemic country for Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika virus. • Co-epidemics of SARS-CoV-2 with other etiologies is a matter for concern. • Serological cross-reactivity in acute Zika infection using a SARS-CoV-2 ELISA test.
Objectives We investigated seroreactivity, using a commercial SARS-CoV-2 ELISA test, in samples collected from different individuals’ groups, including patients diagnosed as Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya infection during 2015 and 2019, from an endemic area at the Caribbean Colombian region. Methods A total of 127 sera, obtained from six different groups of individuals, were included in this study: Group A: patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection; Group B: patients with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or asymptomatic contacts of confirmed patients; Group C: patients with acute or recent dengue virus infection; Group D: patients with acute Zika virus infection; Group E: patients with previous Chikungunya virus infection; and Group F: individuals with exposure to spotted fever group rickettsiae. Results Overall, group A, group B, and group D showed seroreactivity to SARS-CoV-2 in 92%, 75%, and 26% of samples, respectively; meanwhile, group C, group E, and group F showed 100% of seronegative. Conclusions We found 26% of serological cross-reactivity in patients with acute Zika virus infection using a commercial SARS-CoV-2 ELISA test. Further studies could evaluate if serological cross-reaction is maintaining along the time in a non-acute patient with previous exposure to the Zika virus and its effect in SARS-CoV-2 serosurveys in endemic areas for this arbovirus.