tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Influenza Other Respir Viruses
. 2023 Nov 12;17(11):e13222.
doi: 10.1111/irv.13222. eCollection 2023 Nov. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and associated risk factors during the second wave of infection in a university community in Cameroon
René Ghislain Essomba[SUP] 1 2 3 4 [/SUP], Albert Ngano Bayibeki[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Abel Lissom[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Pulchérie Thérèse Ateba[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nassif Seni[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Claude Ariane Nlozoa Fouda[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Solange Berthe Diwandja Mbitock[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Normand David Ebonda[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sylvie Delphine Afana[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Siméon Akame[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Adelphe Anyang Tembu[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Modeste Romuald Ngamaleu[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Bernard Christel Bihonba Bimai[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ousmane Kabo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Philipe Salomon Nguwoh[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christian Taheu Ngounouh[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Moise Christian Junior Meka[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michel Kengne[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Julienne-Louise Ngo Likeng[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Etienne Omolomo Kimessoukie[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Benjamin Alexandre Nkoum[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Marie Claire Okomo Assoumou[SUP] 1 2 6 [/SUP], Joseph Fokam[SUP] 6 7 8 [/SUP], I I Yap Boum[SUP] 2 9 6 [/SUP], Myriam Sylvie Ambomo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Michael Junior Piameu Chadou[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a public health emergency in all sectors of society, including universities and other academic institutions in Cameroon. However, little is known concerning the real prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among student communities during the second wave of infection in Cameroon. This study aimed to estimate SARS-CoV-2 antibodies seroprevalence among participants in a university community in Cameroon.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2021 in 547 students aged ≥18 years during a mass diagnostic campaign at the School of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Central Africa (ESS/UCAC). The anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody screening was done using the Panbio™ COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Diagnostic Test.
Results: The overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 27%, of which 89.9% (n = 133) was IgG, 6.7% (n = 10) IgM and 3.4% (n = 5) IgG/IgM positive. The undergraduate students represented 79% (432/547) of the total population and were highly positive with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 30% (130/432) as compared with postgraduate students 20% (23/115). The total antibody seropositivity was higher in males (34.4%) than females (24.9%). Several factors were associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence including the male gender (OR: 1.61 [95% confidence interval, CI 1.0-2.4]), specialization to medical laboratory (OR: 2.8 [95% CI 1.1-7.1]) and nursing sciences (OR: 2.6 [95% CI 1.1-6.2]).
Conclusion: Our findings point to extensive and underreported circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in a university community during the second wave of infection in Cameroon, which likely resulted in artificially low case counts.
Keywords: COVID‐19; Cameroon; SARS‐CoV‐2; rapid diagnostic test; seroprevalence.
. 2023 Nov 12;17(11):e13222.
doi: 10.1111/irv.13222. eCollection 2023 Nov. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and associated risk factors during the second wave of infection in a university community in Cameroon
René Ghislain Essomba[SUP] 1 2 3 4 [/SUP], Albert Ngano Bayibeki[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Abel Lissom[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Pulchérie Thérèse Ateba[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nassif Seni[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Claude Ariane Nlozoa Fouda[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Solange Berthe Diwandja Mbitock[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Normand David Ebonda[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Sylvie Delphine Afana[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Siméon Akame[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Adelphe Anyang Tembu[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Modeste Romuald Ngamaleu[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Bernard Christel Bihonba Bimai[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ousmane Kabo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Philipe Salomon Nguwoh[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Christian Taheu Ngounouh[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Moise Christian Junior Meka[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michel Kengne[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Julienne-Louise Ngo Likeng[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Etienne Omolomo Kimessoukie[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Benjamin Alexandre Nkoum[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Marie Claire Okomo Assoumou[SUP] 1 2 6 [/SUP], Joseph Fokam[SUP] 6 7 8 [/SUP], I I Yap Boum[SUP] 2 9 6 [/SUP], Myriam Sylvie Ambomo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Michael Junior Piameu Chadou[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37964992
- PMCID: PMC10640965
- DOI: 10.1111/irv.13222
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a public health emergency in all sectors of society, including universities and other academic institutions in Cameroon. However, little is known concerning the real prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among student communities during the second wave of infection in Cameroon. This study aimed to estimate SARS-CoV-2 antibodies seroprevalence among participants in a university community in Cameroon.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2021 in 547 students aged ≥18 years during a mass diagnostic campaign at the School of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Central Africa (ESS/UCAC). The anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody screening was done using the Panbio™ COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Diagnostic Test.
Results: The overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 27%, of which 89.9% (n = 133) was IgG, 6.7% (n = 10) IgM and 3.4% (n = 5) IgG/IgM positive. The undergraduate students represented 79% (432/547) of the total population and were highly positive with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies 30% (130/432) as compared with postgraduate students 20% (23/115). The total antibody seropositivity was higher in males (34.4%) than females (24.9%). Several factors were associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence including the male gender (OR: 1.61 [95% confidence interval, CI 1.0-2.4]), specialization to medical laboratory (OR: 2.8 [95% CI 1.1-7.1]) and nursing sciences (OR: 2.6 [95% CI 1.1-6.2]).
Conclusion: Our findings point to extensive and underreported circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in a university community during the second wave of infection in Cameroon, which likely resulted in artificially low case counts.
Keywords: COVID‐19; Cameroon; SARS‐CoV‐2; rapid diagnostic test; seroprevalence.