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Immunization is a challenge for the elderly population and can leave this group more vulnerable to opportunistic pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. Due to this situation, while vaccines were in the development phase, hypotheses were raised about the role of vitamins and minerals in immunization. In Brazil, there was a controversy regarding the well-known COVID-19 Kit, a standardized prescription for positive cases that contained zinc, and vitamin D, and anti-parasitic drugs. There was great controversy in scientific circles, since COVID-19 brought a major challenge for health professionals and public authorities: misleading information. In this study, we evaluated the role of vitamin D and zinc in the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in a group of elderly residents in a nursing home in northeastern Brazil. Serum levels of COVID-19 NAbs were assessed, along with vitamin D and zinc, in two phases. The first (T1) was in August 2022 with 26 elderly people, and the second (T2) was in March 2023 with 21, due to the death of five participants. Overall, we observed satisfactory levels for vitamin D, with no participants showing a deficiency in either test, and zinc, with only two participants having a negative result at T1 and three at T2. However, a drop in the average number of NAbs was observed, especially in women (T1 = 89 ± 19 vs. T2 = 57 ± 44), highlighting the importance of monitoring this immunological parameter in the population studied. Based on the results, we suggest that there is no synergism between the micronutrients studied and NAbs (p > 0.05). Further studies are needed to consolidate the findings of an absence of synergism between vitamin D and zinc in the maintenance of NAbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to examine the serological and infectious characteristics of the Xokós indigenous community in Brazil, both prior to and following COVID-19 immunization; Methods: Immunofluorescence assays were employed to identify the SARS-CoV-2 viral antigen, while IgM and IgG antibody tests for COVID-19 were utilized to assess the participants' infectious and serological profiles in July 2020, before the commencement of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, and in March 2022, during the booster dose vaccination campaign; Results: The majority of participants (n = 22) were female, with an average age of 42.20 years. The most prevalent comorbidity was hypertension (60%; n = 9), followed by hypertension associated with diabetes (20%; n = 3). No statistically significant correlation was found between the timing of vaccination and the levels of antigens or IgM. However, the prevalence of reactive antigens and IgM was 13.3% (n = 4) in the pre-vaccination group and 3.3% (n = 1) in the post-vaccination group. A statistically significant difference in IgG production was observed before and after vaccination (χ2(1) = 39.095, p < 0.01), as well as differences in IgG antibody detection before and after vaccination and in the vaccines used. Participants showed a higher probability of reactive IgG antibodies following vaccination; Conclusions: Our data demonstrate the beneficial effects of vaccination on the indigenous community, highlighting that continued immunization is a crucial step in protecting indigenous health and preventing severe outbreaks and deaths associated with the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Although reverse zoonotic transmission events from humans to domestic cats have been described, there is currently little evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) circulation in stray cats. Due to the evidence of natural and experimental infections in cats and the capacity to disseminate the virus among them, this study aimed to identify the SARS-CoV-2 antigen in stray cats from the Federal University of Sergipe in Brazil., Materials and Methods: One hundred twenty six stray cats from the university were screened for SARS-CoV-2 antigens by random sampling. Throat swab samples were tested for the virus using rapid antigen detection tests., Results: Of the 126 animals tested, 30 (23.60%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2 antigens. To our knowledge, for the first time, this study detected the SARS-CoV-2 antigen in stray cats and confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Brazil's stray cat population., Conclusion: The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in stray cats poses a risk for infected and healthy animals and possibly for humans who attend the university daily. As a limitation of the study, the small sample size necessitates caution when interpreting the results. This underscores the need for further research in this area to help control diseases in stray animals during potential pandemics. This highlights the need for monitoring and controlling the spread of the virus in stray animal populations., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © Santos, et al.)