Frontiers in Immunology (Mar 2023)
Pre-existing immunity to SARS-CoV-2 before the COVID-19 pandemic era in Cameroon: A comparative analysis according to HIV-status
- Abba Aissatou,
- Abba Aissatou,
- Joseph Fokam,
- Joseph Fokam,
- Joseph Fokam,
- Joseph Fokam,
- Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni Semengue,
- Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni Semengue,
- Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni Semengue,
- Désiré Takou,
- Aude Christelle Ka’e,
- Aude Christelle Ka’e,
- Collins Chenwi Ambe,
- Collins Chenwi Ambe,
- Alex Durand Nka,
- Alex Durand Nka,
- Alex Durand Nka,
- Sandrine Claire Djupsa,
- Grâce Beloumou,
- Laura Ciaffi,
- Michel Carlos Tommo Tchouaket,
- Michel Carlos Tommo Tchouaket,
- Audrey Rachel Mundo Nayang,
- Willy Leroi Togna Pabo,
- René Ghislain Essomba,
- René Ghislain Essomba,
- René Ghislain Essomba,
- Edie G. E. Halle,
- Marie-Claire Okomo,
- Marie-Claire Okomo,
- Marie-Claire Okomo,
- Anne-Cecile ZK. Bissek,
- Rose Leke,
- Rose Leke,
- Yap Boum,
- Georges Alain Etoundi Mballa,
- Georges Alain Etoundi Mballa,
- Carla Montesano,
- Carlo-Federico Perno,
- Vittorio Colizzi,
- Vittorio Colizzi,
- Vittorio Colizzi,
- Alexis Ndjolo,
- Alexis Ndjolo
Affiliations
- Abba Aissatou
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Abba Aissatou
- Serology Unit, Garoua Regional Health Centre, Garoua, Cameroon
- Joseph Fokam
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Joseph Fokam
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Joseph Fokam
- Laboratory Unit, Operations sections, National Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Centre, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Joseph Fokam
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni Semengue
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni Semengue
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Ezechiel Ngoufack Jagni Semengue
- Department of Science and Technology, Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun, Cameroon
- Désiré Takou
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Aude Christelle Ka’e
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Aude Christelle Ka’e
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Collins Chenwi Ambe
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Collins Chenwi Ambe
- Department of General Medicine, Mvangan District Hospital, Mvangan, Cameroon
- Alex Durand Nka
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Alex Durand Nka
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Alex Durand Nka
- Department of Science and Technology, Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun, Cameroon
- Sandrine Claire Djupsa
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Grâce Beloumou
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Laura Ciaffi
- Project Coordinator, National Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Michel Carlos Tommo Tchouaket
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Michel Carlos Tommo Tchouaket
- 0School of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Central Africa, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Audrey Rachel Mundo Nayang
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Willy Leroi Togna Pabo
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- René Ghislain Essomba
- Laboratory Unit, Operations sections, National Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Centre, Yaounde, Cameroon
- René Ghislain Essomba
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
- René Ghislain Essomba
- 1National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Edie G. E. Halle
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
- Marie-Claire Okomo
- Laboratory Unit, Operations sections, National Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Centre, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Marie-Claire Okomo
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Marie-Claire Okomo
- 1National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Anne-Cecile ZK. Bissek
- 2Division of Health Operational Research, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Rose Leke
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Rose Leke
- 3The Biotechnology Center of the University of Yaounde I and the Ministry of Scientific Research, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Yap Boum
- Laboratory Unit, Operations sections, National Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Centre, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Georges Alain Etoundi Mballa
- Laboratory Unit, Operations sections, National Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Centre, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Georges Alain Etoundi Mballa
- 4Division of Disease, Epidemic and Pandemic Control, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon
- Carla Montesano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Carlo-Federico Perno
- 5Department of Microbilogy, Bambino Gesu Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Vittorio Colizzi
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Vittorio Colizzi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
- Vittorio Colizzi
- Department of Science and Technology, Evangelical University of Cameroon, Bandjoun, Cameroon
- Alexis Ndjolo
- Laboratory of virology, Chantal BIYA International Reference Center for Research HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management, Yaoundé, Cameroon
- Alexis Ndjolo
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1155855
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 14
Abstract
BackgroundThe lower burden of COVID-19 in tropical settings may be due to preexisting cross-immunity, which might vary according to geographical locations and potential exposure to other pathogens. We sought to assess the overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and determine SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity according to HIV-status before the COVID-19 pandemic era.MethodsA cross-sectional and comparative study was conducted at the Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre (CIRCB) on 288 stored plasma samples (163 HIV-positive versus 125 HIV-negative); all collected in 2017-2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic era. Abbott Panbio™ COVID-19 IgG/IgM assay was used for detecting SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM). Among people living with HIV (PLHIV), HIV-1 viral load and TCD4 cell count (LTCD4) were measured using Abbott Real Time PCR and BD FACSCalibur respectively. Statistical analyses were performed, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant.ResultsThe median [IQR] age was 25 [15-38] years. Overall seropositivity to SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 13.5% (39/288) of which 7.3% (21) was IgG, 7.3% (21) IgM and 1.0% (3) IgG/IgM. According to HIV-status in the study population, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was 11.0% (18/163) among HIV-positive versus 16.8% (21/125) among HIV-negative respectively, p=0.21. Specifically, IgG was 6.1% (10/163) versus 8.8% (11/125), p=0.26; IgM was 5.5% (9/163) versus 9.6%, (12/125), p=0.13 and IgG/IgM was 0.6% (1/163) versus 1.6% (2/125) respectively. Among PLHIV, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity according to CD4 count was 9.2% (≥500 cells/µL) versus 1.8% (200-499 cells/µL), (OR=3.5; p=0.04) and 0.6% (<200 cells/µL), (OR=17.7; p<0.01). According to viral load, SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was 6.7% (≥40 copies/mL) versus 4.9% (<40 copies/mL), (OR= 3.8; p<0.01).ConclusionBefore COVID-19 in Cameroon, cross-reactive antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 were in circulation, indicating COVID-19 preexisting immunity. This preexisting immunity may contribute in attenuating disease severity in tropical settings like Cameroon. Of relevance, COVID-19 preexisting immunity is lower with HIV-infection, specifically with viral replication and poor CD4-cell count. As poor CD4-count leads to lower cross-reactive antibodies (regardless of viral load), people living with HIV appear more vulnerable to COVID-19 and should be prioritized for vaccination.
Keywords