tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
F1000Res
. 2022 Feb 17;11:205.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.74378.2. eCollection 2022.
Epidemiology of first cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, from March to April 2020, in Gabon
Sonia Etenna Lekana-Douki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nadine N'dilimabaka[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Elvire Mbongo-Kama[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Marisca Kandet Yattara[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Armel Mintsa Ndong[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Audrey Michel Ngonga Dikongo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Julia Cyrielle Andeko[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ornella Zong Minko[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Danielle Styvie Koumba Mavoungou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Abdoulaye Diane[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Arsene Mabika Mabika[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Telstar Ndong Mebaley[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nal Kennedy Ndjangangoye[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Octavie Banga Mve-Ella[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Linda Bohou Kombila[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Joa Braithe Mangombi Pambou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jeordy Dimitri Engone Ondo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gael Darren Maganga[SUP] 1 6 [/SUP], Jean-Bernard Lekana-Douki[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background After the first cases of coronaviruses disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China in January 2020, the epidemic spread around the world. Few data are available from Central Africa. We conducted a study to monitor this emerging disease in Gabon, a Central Africa country. Methods In order to set up an epidemiological surveillance of COVID-19 in Gabon, we led molecular investigations on nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples from the 1161 first suspected cases of COVID-19. A Reverse Ttranscriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using primers and probes targeted the E gene and polymerase gene according to the kit Tib-Molbiol. Results We diagnosed the first case of COVID-19 on March, 12 2020. Among those suspected cases, 83 were confirmed cases. There was no significant difference in prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 between age groups (p = 0.14). Seventy-three percent were asymptomatic. The viral loads were significantly higher in the nasopharyngeal samples than in the oropharyngeal samples (p=0.03). There was no significant difference in viral loads between age groups (p=0.9895) and no correlation between clinical symptoms and viral loads (p=0.06042). Conclusion In conclusion, this study provides the first molecular data from Gabon concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. The data showed that most of the infected people were asymptomatic. The viral load was higher in the nasopharyngeal samples.
Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnostic; Epidemiology; Gabon; S gene; Viral load.
. 2022 Feb 17;11:205.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.74378.2. eCollection 2022.
Epidemiology of first cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, from March to April 2020, in Gabon
Sonia Etenna Lekana-Douki[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nadine N'dilimabaka[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Elvire Mbongo-Kama[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Marisca Kandet Yattara[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Armel Mintsa Ndong[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Audrey Michel Ngonga Dikongo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Julia Cyrielle Andeko[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ornella Zong Minko[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Danielle Styvie Koumba Mavoungou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Abdoulaye Diane[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Arsene Mabika Mabika[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Telstar Ndong Mebaley[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nal Kennedy Ndjangangoye[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Octavie Banga Mve-Ella[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Linda Bohou Kombila[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Joa Braithe Mangombi Pambou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jeordy Dimitri Engone Ondo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gael Darren Maganga[SUP] 1 6 [/SUP], Jean-Bernard Lekana-Douki[SUP] 1 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36451659
- PMCID: PMC9672532
- DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.74378.2
Abstract
Background After the first cases of coronaviruses disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China in January 2020, the epidemic spread around the world. Few data are available from Central Africa. We conducted a study to monitor this emerging disease in Gabon, a Central Africa country. Methods In order to set up an epidemiological surveillance of COVID-19 in Gabon, we led molecular investigations on nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples from the 1161 first suspected cases of COVID-19. A Reverse Ttranscriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using primers and probes targeted the E gene and polymerase gene according to the kit Tib-Molbiol. Results We diagnosed the first case of COVID-19 on March, 12 2020. Among those suspected cases, 83 were confirmed cases. There was no significant difference in prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 between age groups (p = 0.14). Seventy-three percent were asymptomatic. The viral loads were significantly higher in the nasopharyngeal samples than in the oropharyngeal samples (p=0.03). There was no significant difference in viral loads between age groups (p=0.9895) and no correlation between clinical symptoms and viral loads (p=0.06042). Conclusion In conclusion, this study provides the first molecular data from Gabon concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. The data showed that most of the infected people were asymptomatic. The viral load was higher in the nasopharyngeal samples.
Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnostic; Epidemiology; Gabon; S gene; Viral load.