Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Seropositivity in South-Central Uganda, During 2019 – 2021

BACKGROUND: Globally, key subpopulations such as healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2. In Uganda, limited access to personal protective equipment amidst lack of clarity on the extent and pattern of the community disease burden may exacerbate this situation. We asses...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Ssuuna, Charles, Galiwango, Ronald Moses, Kankaka, Edward Nelson, Kagaayi, Joseph, Ndyanabo, Anthony, Kigozi, Godfrey, Nakigozi, Gertrude, Lutalo, Tom, Ssekubugu, Robert, Wasswa, John Bosco, Mayinja, Anthony, Nakibuuka, Martina Cathy, Jamiru, Samiri, Oketch, John Baptist, Muwanga, Edward, Chang, Larry William, Grabowski, Mary Kate, Wawer, Maria, Gray, Ronald, Anderson, Mark, Stec, Michael, Cloherty, Gavin, Laeyendecker, Oliver, Reynolds, Steven James, Quinn, Thomas C., Serwadda, David
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: American Journal Experts 2021
Materias:
Article
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8547523/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34704090
http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-960585/v1
Descripción
Sumario:BACKGROUND: Globally, key subpopulations such as healthcare workers (HCWs) have a higher risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2. In Uganda, limited access to personal protective equipment amidst lack of clarity on the extent and pattern of the community disease burden may exacerbate this situation. We assessed SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence among high-risk sub-populations in South-central Uganda, including HCWs, persons within the general population previously reporting experiencing key COVID-19 like symptoms (fever, cough, loss of taste and smell) and archived plasma specimens collected between October 2019 – 18(th) March 2020, prior to confirmation of COVID-19 in Uganda. METHODS: From November 2020 - January 2021, we collected venous blood from HCWs at selected health facilities in South-Central Uganda and from population-cohort participants who reported specific COVID-19 like symptoms in a prior phone-based survey conducted (between May to August 2020) during the first national lockdown. Pre-lockdown plasma collected (between October 2019 and March 18(th), 2020) from individuals considered high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection was retrieved. Specimens were tested for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 using the CoronaChek™ rapid COVID-19 IgM/IgG lateral flow test assay. IgM only positive samples were confirmed using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) (Architect AdviseDx SARS-CoV-2 IgM) which targets the spike protein. SARS-CoV-2 exposure was defined as either confirmed IgM, both IgM and IgG or sole IgG positivity. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in HCWs was 21.1% [95%CI: 18.2–24.2]. Of the phone-based survey participants, 11.9% [95%CI: 8.0–16.8] had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Among 636 pre-lockdown plasma specimens, 1.7% [95%CI: 0.9–3.1] were reactive. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a high seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs and substantial exposure in persons presenting with specific COVID-19 like symptoms in the general population of South-central Uganda. Based on current limitations in serological test confirmation, it remains unclear whether pre-lockdown seropositivity implies prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure in Uganda.

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