Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among children and adolescents recruited in a malariometric survey in north-eastern Tanzania July 2021
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Standard
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among children and adolescents recruited in a malariometric survey in north-eastern Tanzania July 2021. / Lyimo, Eric; Fougeroux, Cyrielle; Malabeja, Anangisye; Mbwana, Joyce; Hayuma, Paul M; Liheluka, Edwin; Turner, Louise; Gesase, Samwel; Lavstsen, Thomas; Lusingu, John P A; Minja, Daniel T R; Wang, Christian W.
In: BMC Infectious Diseases, Vol. 22, 846, 2022.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Harvard
APA
Vancouver
Author
Bibtex
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among children and adolescents recruited in a malariometric survey in north-eastern Tanzania July 2021
AU - Lyimo, Eric
AU - Fougeroux, Cyrielle
AU - Malabeja, Anangisye
AU - Mbwana, Joyce
AU - Hayuma, Paul M
AU - Liheluka, Edwin
AU - Turner, Louise
AU - Gesase, Samwel
AU - Lavstsen, Thomas
AU - Lusingu, John P A
AU - Minja, Daniel T R
AU - Wang, Christian W
N1 - © 2022. The Author(s).
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - BACKGROUND: African countries stand out globally as the region seemingly least affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. Besides a younger population and potential pre-existing immunity to a SARS-CoV-2-like virus, it has been hypothesized that co-infection or recent history of Plasmodium falciparum malaria may be protective of COVID-19 severity and mortality. The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, however, may be vastly undercounted. Very little is known about the extent to which the Tanzanian population has been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Here, we investigated the seroprevalence of IgG to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in two Tanzanian rural communities 1½ years into the pandemic and the association of coinciding malaria infection and exposure.METHODS: During a malariometric survey in July 2021 in two villages in north-eastern Tanzania, blood samples were taken from 501 participants (0-19 years old). Malaria was detected by mRDT and microscopy. Levels of IgG against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 were measured by ELISA as well as IgG against five different antigens of P. falciparum; CIDRα1.1, CIDRα1.4 and CIDRα1.5 of PfEMP1 and GLURP and MSP3.RESULTS: The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 39.7% (106/267) in Kwamasimba and 32.5% (76/234) in Mkokola. In both villages the odds of being seropositive increased significantly with age (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.07-1.17, p < 0.001). P. falciparum malaria prevalence by blood smear microscopy was 7.9% in Kwamasimba and 2.1% in Mkokola. 81.3% and 70.5% in Kwamasimba and Mkokola, respectively, showed recognition of minimum one malaria antigen. Residing in Kwamasimba was associated with a broader recognition (AOR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.34-2.71, p < 0.001). The recognition of malaria antigens increased significantly with age in both villages (AOR = 1.12; 95% CI 1.08-1.16, p < 0.001). Being SARS-CoV-2 seropositive did not associate with the breadth of malaria antigen recognition when adjusting for age (AOR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.83-1.18; p = 0.91).CONCLUSION: More than a third of the children and adolescents in two rural communities in Tanzania had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. In particular, the adolescents were seropositive but being seropositive did not associate with the status of coinciding malaria infections or previous exposure. In Tanzania, natural immunity may have developed fast, potentially protecting a substantial part of the population from later variants.
AB - BACKGROUND: African countries stand out globally as the region seemingly least affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. Besides a younger population and potential pre-existing immunity to a SARS-CoV-2-like virus, it has been hypothesized that co-infection or recent history of Plasmodium falciparum malaria may be protective of COVID-19 severity and mortality. The number of COVID-19 cases and deaths, however, may be vastly undercounted. Very little is known about the extent to which the Tanzanian population has been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Here, we investigated the seroprevalence of IgG to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in two Tanzanian rural communities 1½ years into the pandemic and the association of coinciding malaria infection and exposure.METHODS: During a malariometric survey in July 2021 in two villages in north-eastern Tanzania, blood samples were taken from 501 participants (0-19 years old). Malaria was detected by mRDT and microscopy. Levels of IgG against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 were measured by ELISA as well as IgG against five different antigens of P. falciparum; CIDRα1.1, CIDRα1.4 and CIDRα1.5 of PfEMP1 and GLURP and MSP3.RESULTS: The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 39.7% (106/267) in Kwamasimba and 32.5% (76/234) in Mkokola. In both villages the odds of being seropositive increased significantly with age (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.07-1.17, p < 0.001). P. falciparum malaria prevalence by blood smear microscopy was 7.9% in Kwamasimba and 2.1% in Mkokola. 81.3% and 70.5% in Kwamasimba and Mkokola, respectively, showed recognition of minimum one malaria antigen. Residing in Kwamasimba was associated with a broader recognition (AOR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.34-2.71, p < 0.001). The recognition of malaria antigens increased significantly with age in both villages (AOR = 1.12; 95% CI 1.08-1.16, p < 0.001). Being SARS-CoV-2 seropositive did not associate with the breadth of malaria antigen recognition when adjusting for age (AOR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.83-1.18; p = 0.91).CONCLUSION: More than a third of the children and adolescents in two rural communities in Tanzania had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. In particular, the adolescents were seropositive but being seropositive did not associate with the status of coinciding malaria infections or previous exposure. In Tanzania, natural immunity may have developed fast, potentially protecting a substantial part of the population from later variants.
KW - Child
KW - Adolescent
KW - Humans
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Infant
KW - Child, Preschool
KW - Young Adult
KW - Adult
KW - Seroepidemiologic Studies
KW - Plasmodium falciparum
KW - SARS-CoV-2
KW - Tanzania/epidemiology
KW - Pandemics
KW - COVID-19/epidemiology
KW - Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology
KW - Antigens, Protozoan
KW - Antibodies, Viral
KW - Immunoglobulin G
U2 - 10.1186/s12879-022-07820-6
DO - 10.1186/s12879-022-07820-6
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36371172
VL - 22
JO - B M C Infectious Diseases
JF - B M C Infectious Diseases
SN - 1471-2334
M1 - 846
ER -
ID: 325854435