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. 2022 Nov;2(4):100110.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2022.100110. Epub 2022 Sep 16.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in Malawian infants between February 2020 and May 2021

Silvia Baroncelli  1 , Clementina Maria Galluzzo  1 , Stefano Orlando  2 , Robert Mphwere  3 , Thom Kavalo  3 , Richard Luhanga  3 , Roberta Amici  1 , Marco Floridia  1 , Mauro Andreotti  1 , Paola Scarcella  2 , Maria Cristina Marazzi  4 , Marina Giuliano  1
Affiliations

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in Malawian infants between February 2020 and May 2021

Silvia Baroncelli et al. J Clin Virol Plus. 2022 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Very limited information is available on SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in infants in sub-Saharan countries.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to determine the rate and the temporal evolution of SARS CoV-2 seropositivity in breastfed Malawian infants.

Study design: Blood samples (n = 250) from 158 infants, born to HIV-negative women and women living with HIV, collected from February 2020 to May 2021, were first tested using an Anti-IgG/A/M SARS CoV 2 ELISA assay against trimeric spike protein, and then, if positive, confirmed using a second ELISA assay detecting IgG against Receptor Binding Domain.

Results: The confirmed prevalence of anti-SARS CoV-2 antibodies was 31.0% (95% CI: 23.7%-38.3%) with no significant difference between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants (29.3% and 37.1% respectively, P = 0.410). The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was not associated with maternal socioeconomic or demographic indices.

Conclusions: Our data underline the wide spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population in sub-Saharan Africa. Design of more specific serological tests for African samples and improvements in serosurveillance programs are needed for more rigorous monitoring of the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Africa.

Keywords: Malawi; SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence; infants.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig1
Fig.1
Optical density of the 250 samples from 158 infants tested by the Binding Site ELISA targeting trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike. The samples are categorized as false positive or confirmed positive on the basis of the results obtained with the second ELISA assay (R&D Seroindex ELISA).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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