COVID-19 in Tunisia (North Africa): Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the General Population of the Capital City Tunis
Ines Cherif,
Ghassen Kharroubi,
Sana Chaabane,
Rihab Yazidi,
Mongi Dellagi,
Mohamed Ali Snoussi,
Sadok Salem,
Soumaya Marzouki,
Wafa Kammoun Rebai,
Samia Rourou,
Koussay Dellagi,
Mohamed Ridha Barbouche,
Chaouki Benabdessalem,
Melika Ben Ahmed,
Jihene Bettaieb
Affiliations
Ines Cherif
Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Ghassen Kharroubi
Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Sana Chaabane
Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Rihab Yazidi
Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Mongi Dellagi
Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Mohamed Ali Snoussi
Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Sadok Salem
Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Soumaya Marzouki
Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Wafa Kammoun Rebai
Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Samia Rourou
Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Vaccinology and Biotechnology Development, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Koussay Dellagi
Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Mohamed Ridha Barbouche
Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Chaouki Benabdessalem
Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Melika Ben Ahmed
Laboratory of Transmission, Control and Immunobiology of Infections (LR11IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Jihene Bettaieb
Department of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
Seroprevalence studies are essential to get an accurate estimate of the actual SARS-CoV-2 diffusion within populations. We report on the findings of the first serosurvey conducted in Tunis prior to the implementation of mass vaccination and analyzed factors associated with seropositivity. A household cross sectional survey was conducted (March–April 2021) in Tunis, spanning the end of the second wave and the beginning of the third wave of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the spike (S-RBD) or the nucleocapsid (N) proteins were detected by in-house ELISA tests. The survey included 1676 individuals from 431 households. The mean age and sex ratio were 43.3 ± 20.9 years and 0.6, respectively. The weighted seroprevalence of anti-N and/or anti-S-RBD IgG antibodies was equal to 38.0% (34.6–41.5). In multivariate analysis, age under 10, no tobacco use, previous diagnosis of COVID-19, a history of COVID-19 related symptoms and contact with a COVID-19 case within the household, were independently associated with higher SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence. More than one third of people living in Tunis obtained antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Further studies are needed to monitor changes in these figures as Tunisian population is confronted to the subsequent epidemic waves and to guide the vaccine strategy.
