Frontiers in Public Health (Dec 2023)

SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in pregnant women in Kilifi, Kenya from March 2020 to March 2022

  • Angela Koech,
  • Angela Koech,
  • Geoffrey Omuse,
  • Alex G. Mugo,
  • Isaac G. Mwaniki,
  • Joseph M. Mutunga,
  • Moses W. Mukhanya,
  • Onesmus Wanje,
  • Grace M. Mwashigadi,
  • Geoffrey G. Katana,
  • Rachel Craik,
  • Peter von Dadelszen,
  • Peter von Dadelszen,
  • Kirsty Le Doare,
  • Marleen Temmerman,
  • Marleen Temmerman,
  • Marleen Temmerman,
  • periCOVID-Africa,
  • The PRECISE Network,
  • Bridget Freyne,
  • Kondwani Kawaza,
  • Samantha Lissauer,
  • Halvor Sommerfelt,
  • Melanie Etti,
  • Philippa Musoke,
  • Robert Mboizi,
  • Stephen Cose,
  • Victoria Nankabirwa,
  • Lauren Hookham,
  • Joseph Ouma,
  • Gordon Rukondo,
  • Madeleine Cochet,
  • Merryn Voysey,
  • Liberty Cantrell,
  • Patricia Okiro,
  • Consolata Juma,
  • Marvin Ochieng,
  • Emily Mwadime,
  • Esperança Sevene,
  • Corssino Tchavana,
  • Salesio Macuacua,
  • Anifa Vala,
  • Helena Boene,
  • Lazaro Quimice,
  • Sonia Maculuve,
  • Eusebio Macete,
  • Inacio Mandomando,
  • Carla Carillho,
  • Umberto D’Alessandro,
  • Anna Roca,
  • Hawanatu Jah,
  • Andrew Prentice,
  • Melisa Martinez-Alvarez,
  • Brahima Diallo,
  • Abdul Sesay,
  • Sambou Suso,
  • Baboucarr Njie,
  • Fatima Touray,
  • Yahaya Idris,
  • Fatoumata Kongira,
  • Modou F.S. Ndure,
  • Gibril Gabbidon,
  • Lawrence Gibba,
  • Abdoulie Bah,
  • Yorro Bah,
  • Laura A. Magee,
  • Hiten Mistry,
  • Marie-Laure Volvert,
  • Thomas Mendy,
  • Lucilla Poston,
  • Jane Sandall,
  • Rachel Tribe,
  • Sophie Moore,
  • Tatiana T. Salisbury,
  • Donna Russell,
  • Prestige T. Makanga,
  • Liberty Makacha,
  • Reason Mlambo,
  • Aris Papageorghiou,
  • Alison Noble,
  • Hannah Blencowe,
  • Veronique Filippi,
  • Joy Lawn,
  • Matt Silver,
  • Joseph Waiswa,
  • Ursula Gazeley,
  • Judith Cartwright,
  • Guy Whitley,
  • Sanjeev Krishna,
  • Marianne Vidler,
  • Jing (Larry) Li,
  • Jeff Bone,
  • Mai-Lei (Maggie) W Kinshella,
  • Domena Tu,
  • Ash Sandhu,
  • Kelly Pickerill,
  • Ben Barratt

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1292932
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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BackgroundSeroprevalence 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.MethodsWe 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).ResultsA 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 75.9% (95% CI 73.55–78.17) 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.ConclusionAnti-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.

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