Document Type
Article
Department
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (East Africa); Pathology (East Africa); Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health
Abstract
Background: Seroprevalence studies are an alternative approach to estimating the extent of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the evolution of the pandemic in different geographical settings. We aimed to determine the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence from March 2020 to March 2022 in a rural and urban setting in Kilifi County, Kenya.
Methods: We obtained representative random samples of stored serum from a pregnancy cohort study for the period March 2020 to March 2022 and tested for antibodies against the spike protein using a qualitative SARS-CoV-2 ELISA kit (Wantai, total antibodies). All positive samples were retested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 anti-nucleocapsid antibodies (Euroimmun, ELISA kits, NCP, qualitative, IgG) and anti-spike protein antibodies (Euroimmun, ELISA kits, QuantiVac; quantitative, IgG).
Results: A total of 2,495 (of 4,703 available) samples were tested. There was an overall trend of increasing seropositivity from a low of 0% [95% CI 0–0.06] in March 2020 to a high of 89.4% [95% CI 83.36–93.82] in Feb 2022. Of the Wantai test-positive samples, 59.7% [95% CI 57.06–62.34] tested positive by the Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2 NCP test and 37.4% [95% CI 34.83–40.04] tested positive by the Euroimmun anti-SARS-CoV-2 QuantiVac test. No differences were observed between the urban and rural hospital but villages adjacent to the major highway traversing the study area had a higher seroprevalence.
Conclusion: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rose rapidly, with most of the population exposed to SARS-CoV-2 within 23 months of the first cases. The high cumulative seroprevalence suggests greater population exposure to SARS-CoV-2 than that reported from surveillance data.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Frontiers in Public Health
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1292932
Recommended Citation
Koech, A.,
Omuse, G.,
Mugo, A.,
Mwaniki, I.,
Mutunga, J.,
Mukhanya, M.,
Wanje, O.,
Mwashigadi, G.,
Katana, G.,
Temmerman, M.
(2023). SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kilifi, Kenya from March 2020 to March 2022. Frontiers in Public Health, 1-11.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/coe-wch/75
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Maternal and Child Health Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons, Pathology Commons, Women's Health Commons