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. 2023 Jul 13;45(Suppl 2):2.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2023.45.2.38098. eCollection 2023.

Seroprevalence of poliovirus antibodies in Nigeria: refining strategies to sustain the eradication effort

Omotayo Bolu  1 , Usman Adamu  2 , Richard Franka  1 , Chukwuma David Umeokonkwo  3 , Qian An  1 , Stacie Greby  1 , Sharla McDonald  1 , Bernardo Mainou  1 , Nwando Mba  4 , Ndidi Agala  5 , Wiedad Roodly Archer  1 , Fiona Braka  6 , Sume Gerald Etapelong  6 , Tegegne Sisay Gashu  6 , Anisur Rahman Siddique  7 , Adeyelu Asekun  1 , McPaul Okoye  1 , Nnaemeka Iriemenam  1 , Eric Wiesen  1 , Mahesh Swaminathan  1 , Chikwe Ihekweazu  4 , Faisal Shuaib  2
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of poliovirus antibodies in Nigeria: refining strategies to sustain the eradication effort

Omotayo Bolu et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: in 2016, a switch from trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) (containing serotypes 1,2,3) to bivalent OPV (types 1,3) was implemented globally. We assessed the seroprevalence of poliovirus antibody levels in selected Nigerian states, before and after the switch, documented poliovirus type2 outbreak responses conducted and ascertained factors associated with immunity gaps based on seroprevalence rates.

Methods: we conducted a secondary analysis of stored serum samples from the 2018 Nigeria National HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey. Serum from 1,185 children aged 0-119 months residing in one southern and four northern states were tested for serotype-specific PV neutralizing antibodies; seropositivity was a reciprocal titer ≥8. We conducted regression analysis to determine sociodemographic risk factors associated with low seroprevalence using SAS 9.4.

Results: children aged 24-119 months (pre-switch cohort) had seroprevalence against PV1, PV2, and PV3, of 97.3% (95% CI:96.4-98.2), 93.8% (95% CI:92.2-95.5), and 91.3% (95% CI:89.2-93.4), while children aged <24 months (post-switch) had seroprevalence of 86.0% (95% CI:81.2-90.8), 55.6% (95% CI: 47.7-63.4), and 77.2% (95% CI:71.0-83.4) respectively. Regression analysis showed age <24 months was associated with lower seroprevalence against all PV serotypes, (p<0.0001); females had lower seroprevalence against PV1 (p=0.0184) and PV2 (p=0.0354); northern states lower seroprevalence against PV1 (p=0.0039), while well-water source lower seroprevalence against PV3 (p=0.0288).

Conclusion: this study showed high seroprevalence rates against PV 1, 2, and 3 in pre-switch children (aged 24-119 months). However, post-switch children (<24 months) had low immunity against PV2 despite outbreak responses. Strategies to increase routine immunization coverage and high-quality polio campaigns can increase immunity against polio virus.

Keywords: Nigeria; Prevalence; antibodies; disease outbreaks; immunity; immunization; polio virus vaccine; poliomyelitis; risk factors; serotype.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
percent seroprevalence of poliovirus neutralizing antibodies for types 1, 2, 3; disaggregated by age group; Nigeria (Borno, Jigawa, Lagos, Sokoto, Yobe States), 2018
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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