SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Malawian Breastfed Infants between February 2020 And May 2021
24 Pages Posted: 7 May 2022
Abstract
Background: Very limited information is available on SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in infants in sub-Saharan countries.
Objective: In this study we aimed to determine the rate and the temporal evolution of SARS CoV-2 seropositivity in breastfed Malawian infants.
Study design: Blood samples (n=250) from 158 infants, born to HIV negative women and to women living with HIV, collected from February 2020 to May 2021, were first tested using an Anti-IgG/A/M SARS CoV 2 ELISA assay against trimeric spike protein and then, if positive, confirmed using a second ELISA assay detecting IgG against Receptor Binding Domain.
Results: The confirmed prevalence of anti-SARS CoV-2 antibodies was 31.0% (95% CI: 23.7%-38.3%) with no significant difference between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed infants (29.3% and 37.1% respectively, P = 0.410). The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was not associated with maternal socioeconomic or demographic indices.
Conclusions: Our data underline the wide spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric population in sub-Saharan Africa.
Note:
Funding Information: This work was supported by a grant to the Istituto Superiore di Sanità from the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development through the Global Fund 5% Initiative (Grant n. AID 011141/03/04) and is an Italy Independent Activity in the scope of EDCTP2 recorded as Participant State Initiated Activity - PSIA 2019-2072.
Conflict of Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval: Ethical approval was obtained from the National Health Research Committee in Malawi (approval number #2085), and informed consent was obtained from all women attending the Ante-Natal Clinics.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 antibody, Prevalence, infants, Malawi
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