Conference abstract
SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and associated risk factors in COVID-19 screening and control centers in Douala, the most populated and heterogeneous town of Cameroon
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2023:18(27).03
Oct 2023.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2023.18.27.2074
Archived on: 03 Oct 2023
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 infection, antibody seroprevalence, risk factors, Douala, Cameroon
Oral presentation
SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and associated risk factors in COVID-19 screening and control centers in Douala, the most populated and heterogeneous town of Cameroon
Arlette Flore Moguem Soubgui1, Loick Pradel Kojom Foko2, Wilfried Steve Ndeme Mboussi1, Elisee Libert Embolo Enyegue3, Martin Luther Koanga Mogtomo1,&
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, Cameroon, 2Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, Cameroon, 3Center for Research on Health and Priority Diseases, Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaoundé, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the extent of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in many African countries especially in Cameroon remained unclear, underlining the need for antibody sero-surveys to assess the cumulative attack rate. In this work, we report the results of a cross-sectional study, a hospital-based sero-survey of a random sample of patients who attended COVID-19 screening and Control Centers in Douala, the most populated and heterogeneous town in Cameroon. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in this population, to assess risk factors for seropositivity
Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted from January to September 2022 at seven health districts in Douala (COVID-19 Screening and Control Centers of Bangue, Boko, Bonassama, Cité des Palmiers, Deido, New-Bell, Nylon). A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data from 420 participants. Blood samples were collected and serum was obtained to quantify serum IgM and IgG levels using the ELISA-Immuno-Sandwish method. Statistical analyses were done (α = 5 %).
Results: the overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 45.2% for IgM and 90.2% for IgG. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM seroprevalence was significantly higher in participants younger than 30 years old (57.1%; p=0.03). SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence was significantly higher in participants recruited at the Boko health center (100%; p = 0.02), and in non-asthmatic patients (90.9%; p = 0.02). The risk of detecting the presence of neutralizing IgM anti-SARS-CoV-2 was reduced with age (69% (OR = 0.31; 95% CI 0.10 – 0.96; p = 0.04) in participants over 70 years of age). Similarly, reducing the risk of detecting the presence of neutralizing IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 was related to health care (79% (OR = 0.21; 95% CI 0.08 – 0.58; p = 0.002) in Deido), occupation (84% (OR = 0.16; 95% CI 0.03 – 0.99; p = 0.04), among those in the informal sector) and the presence of comorbidity (73% (0.17; 95% CI 0.04 – 0.67; p = 0.01) in asthmatic patients).
Conclusion: despite the high seroprevalence that the data indicate in Douala, as in most other surveyed regions in Africa, the majority of the population has avoided SARS-CoV-2 infection, highlighting the importance of continuing investigations of the immunological biomarkers and resilience factors of African populations.
SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence and associated risk factors in COVID-19 screening and control centers in Douala, the most populated and heterogeneous town of Cameroon
Arlette Flore Moguem Soubgui1, Loick Pradel Kojom Foko2, Wilfried Steve Ndeme Mboussi1, Elisee Libert Embolo Enyegue3, Martin Luther Koanga Mogtomo1,&
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, Cameroon, 2Department of Animal Organisms, Faculty of Science, The University of Douala, Cameroon, 3Center for Research on Health and Priority Diseases, Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, Yaoundé, Cameroon
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the extent of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in many African countries especially in Cameroon remained unclear, underlining the need for antibody sero-surveys to assess the cumulative attack rate. In this work, we report the results of a cross-sectional study, a hospital-based sero-survey of a random sample of patients who attended COVID-19 screening and Control Centers in Douala, the most populated and heterogeneous town in Cameroon. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in this population, to assess risk factors for seropositivity
Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted from January to September 2022 at seven health districts in Douala (COVID-19 Screening and Control Centers of Bangue, Boko, Bonassama, Cité des Palmiers, Deido, New-Bell, Nylon). A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and clinical data from 420 participants. Blood samples were collected and serum was obtained to quantify serum IgM and IgG levels using the ELISA-Immuno-Sandwish method. Statistical analyses were done (α = 5 %).
Results: the overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 45.2% for IgM and 90.2% for IgG. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM seroprevalence was significantly higher in participants younger than 30 years old (57.1%; p=0.03). SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence was significantly higher in participants recruited at the Boko health center (100%; p = 0.02), and in non-asthmatic patients (90.9%; p = 0.02). The risk of detecting the presence of neutralizing IgM anti-SARS-CoV-2 was reduced with age (69% (OR = 0.31; 95% CI 0.10 – 0.96; p = 0.04) in participants over 70 years of age). Similarly, reducing the risk of detecting the presence of neutralizing IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 was related to health care (79% (OR = 0.21; 95% CI 0.08 – 0.58; p = 0.002) in Deido), occupation (84% (OR = 0.16; 95% CI 0.03 – 0.99; p = 0.04), among those in the informal sector) and the presence of comorbidity (73% (0.17; 95% CI 0.04 – 0.67; p = 0.01) in asthmatic patients).
Conclusion: despite the high seroprevalence that the data indicate in Douala, as in most other surveyed regions in Africa, the majority of the population has avoided SARS-CoV-2 infection, highlighting the importance of continuing investigations of the immunological biomarkers and resilience factors of African populations.
