Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 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  1   2   3   4 , Albert Ngano Bayibeki  3 , Abel Lissom  5 , Pulchérie Thérèse Ateba  3 , Nassif Seni  3 , Claude Ariane Nlozoa Fouda  3 , Solange Berthe Diwandja Mbitock  3 , Normand David Ebonda  3 , Sylvie Delphine Afana  3 , Siméon Akame  3 , Adelphe Anyang Tembu  3 , Modeste Romuald Ngamaleu  3 , Bernard Christel Bihonba Bimai  3 , Ousmane Kabo  3 , Philipe Salomon Nguwoh  1 , Christian Taheu Ngounouh  6 , Moise Christian Junior Meka  1 , Michel Kengne  3 , Julienne-Louise Ngo Likeng  3 , Etienne Omolomo Kimessoukie  3 , Benjamin Alexandre Nkoum  3 , Marie Claire Okomo Assoumou  1   2   6 , Joseph Fokam  6   7   8 , I I Yap Boum  2   9   6 , Myriam Sylvie Ambomo  3 , Michael Junior Piameu Chadou  3
Affiliations

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 et al. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. .

Abstract

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.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Seroprevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) IgG and IgM antibodies in the study population. (A) Global distribution of IgG and IgM antibodies in the population. (B) Distribution of SARS‐CoV‐2 IgM/IgG antibodies considering the training level of the students. (C) Geographic variation of the seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 IgM and IgM antibodies.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. WHO . Coronavirus Disease (COVID‐19). 2023. [cited 2023 Feb 11].
    1. Wondeu ALD, Talom BM, Linardos G, et al. The COVID‐19 wave was already here: high seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies among staff and students in a Cameroon University. J Public Health Afr. 2023;14(1). doi:10.4081/jphia.2023.2242 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Epée E, Mandeng N, Njuma Libwea J, et al. Two years of Cameroon's resilient response in the Covid‐19 pandemic. Revue de L'ACADEMIE Des Sciences du Cameroun. 2022.
    1. Ojong N. The COVID‐19 pandemic and the pathology of the economic and political architecture in Cameroon. S. 2020;8(2):176. doi:10.3390/healthcare8020176 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Vusirikala A, Whitaker H, Jones S, et al. Seroprevalence of SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in uni‐versity students: cross‐sectional study, December 2020. England J Infect. 2021;83(1):104‐111. doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2021.04.028 - DOI - PMC - PubMed