Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals.
Surveillance of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 dynamics is crucial to understanding natural history and providing insights into the population's exposure risk and specific susceptibilities. This study investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, its predictors, and immunological status among...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2024-01-01
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| Series: | PLOS Global Public Health |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0002380&type=printable |
| _version_ | 1827348571312095232 |
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| author | Arlette Flore Moguem Soubgui Wilfred Steve Ndeme Mboussi Loick Pradel Kojom Foko Elisée Libert Embolo Enyegue Martin Luther Koanga Mogtomo |
| author_facet | Arlette Flore Moguem Soubgui Wilfred Steve Ndeme Mboussi Loick Pradel Kojom Foko Elisée Libert Embolo Enyegue Martin Luther Koanga Mogtomo |
| author_sort | Arlette Flore Moguem Soubgui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Surveillance of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 dynamics is crucial to understanding natural history and providing insights into the population's exposure risk and specific susceptibilities. This study investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, its predictors, and immunological status among unvaccinated patients in Cameroon. A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted between January and September 2022 in the town of Douala. Patients were consecutively recruited, and data of interest were collected using a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to determine Immunoglobin titres (IgM and IgG), interferon gamma (IFN- γ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by ELISA, and CD4+ cells by flow cytometry. A total of 342 patients aged 41.5 ± 13.9 years were included. Most participants (75.8%) were asymptomatic. The overall crude prevalence of IgM and IgG was 49.1% and 88.9%, respectively. After adjustment, the seroprevalence values were 51% for IgM and 93% for IgM. Ageusia and anosmia have displayed the highest positive predictive values (90.9% and 82.4%) and specificity (98.9% and 98.3%). The predictors of IgM seropositivity were being diabetic (aOR = 0.23, p = 0.01), frequently seeking healthcare (aOR = 1.97, p = 0.03), and diagnosed with ageusia (aOR = 20.63, p = 0.005), whereas those of IgG seropositivity included health facility (aOR = 0.15, p = 0.01), age of 40-50 years (aOR = 8.78, p = 0.01), married (aOR = 0.21, p = 0.02), fever (aOR = 0.08, p = 0.01), and ageusia (aOR = 0.08, p = 0.01). CD4+, IFN-γ, and IL-6 were impaired in seropositive individuals, with a confounding role of socio-demographic factors or comorbidities. Although the WHO declared the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency, the findings of this study indicate the need for continuous surveillance to adequately control the disease in Cameroon. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:14:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-68b9cbd81fd74f6fa1b65f1dcbd1d8da |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2767-3375 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T00:14:08Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLOS Global Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-68b9cbd81fd74f6fa1b65f1dcbd1d8da2024-02-17T05:59:24ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752024-01-0142e000238010.1371/journal.pgph.0002380Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals.Arlette Flore Moguem SoubguiWilfred Steve Ndeme MboussiLoick Pradel Kojom FokoElisée Libert Embolo EnyegueMartin Luther Koanga MogtomoSurveillance of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 dynamics is crucial to understanding natural history and providing insights into the population's exposure risk and specific susceptibilities. This study investigated the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, its predictors, and immunological status among unvaccinated patients in Cameroon. A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted between January and September 2022 in the town of Douala. Patients were consecutively recruited, and data of interest were collected using a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to determine Immunoglobin titres (IgM and IgG), interferon gamma (IFN- γ) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by ELISA, and CD4+ cells by flow cytometry. A total of 342 patients aged 41.5 ± 13.9 years were included. Most participants (75.8%) were asymptomatic. The overall crude prevalence of IgM and IgG was 49.1% and 88.9%, respectively. After adjustment, the seroprevalence values were 51% for IgM and 93% for IgM. Ageusia and anosmia have displayed the highest positive predictive values (90.9% and 82.4%) and specificity (98.9% and 98.3%). The predictors of IgM seropositivity were being diabetic (aOR = 0.23, p = 0.01), frequently seeking healthcare (aOR = 1.97, p = 0.03), and diagnosed with ageusia (aOR = 20.63, p = 0.005), whereas those of IgG seropositivity included health facility (aOR = 0.15, p = 0.01), age of 40-50 years (aOR = 8.78, p = 0.01), married (aOR = 0.21, p = 0.02), fever (aOR = 0.08, p = 0.01), and ageusia (aOR = 0.08, p = 0.01). CD4+, IFN-γ, and IL-6 were impaired in seropositive individuals, with a confounding role of socio-demographic factors or comorbidities. Although the WHO declared the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency, the findings of this study indicate the need for continuous surveillance to adequately control the disease in Cameroon.https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0002380&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Arlette Flore Moguem Soubgui Wilfred Steve Ndeme Mboussi Loick Pradel Kojom Foko Elisée Libert Embolo Enyegue Martin Luther Koanga Mogtomo Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals. PLOS Global Public Health |
| title | Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals. |
| title_full | Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals. |
| title_fullStr | Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals. |
| title_short | Serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and altered immune response among COVID-19 unvaccinated Cameroonian individuals. |
| title_sort | serological surveillance reveals a high exposure to sars cov 2 and altered immune response among covid 19 unvaccinated cameroonian individuals |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0002380&type=printable |
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