Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in clinical settings in Douala, Cameroon

Sylvie Kwedi Nolna; Miriam Niba; Cedric Djadda; Palmer Masumbe Netongo

doi:10.3389/fepid.2023.1212220

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients in clinical settings in Douala, Cameroon

Front Epidemiol. 2023 Aug 14:3:1212220. doi: 10.3389/fepid.2023.1212220. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Sylvie Kwedi Nolna^{1

2}, Miriam Niba², Cedric Djadda², Palmer Masumbe Netongo^{3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Epidemiology Department, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
² Capacity for Leadership Excellence and Research (CLEAR), Yaoundé, Cameroon.
³ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁴ Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, Biotechnology Centre-University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁵ School of Science, Navajo Technical University, Crownpoint, NM, United States.

Abstract

Background: The asymptomatic nature of COVID-19 coupled with differential testing are confounders in the assessment of SARS-CoV-2 incidence among people living with HIV (PLWH). As various comorbidities increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, it is crucial to assess the potential contribution of HIV to the risk of acquiring COVID-19. Our study aimed to compare the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence among people living with and without HIV.

Methods: PLWH were enrolled in the HIV units of two health facilities in Douala, Cameroon. Participants were consecutively enrolled, among which 47 were people living with HIV and 31 were HIV-negative patients. SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests were performed on all participants. Overall, medical consultation was conducted. For HIV-positive participants only, viral load, antiretroviral regimen, duration of HIV infection, and duration of antiretroviral treatment were retrieved from medical records.

Results: We found an overall SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence of 42.31% within the study population, with a SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence of 44.6% for PLWH and 38.7% among those without HIV infection; no significant statistical difference was observed. Adjusting for sex, HIV status, and BCG vaccination, the odds of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection were higher among married persons in the study population. Sex, BCG vaccination, and HIV status were not found to be associated with SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositivity.

Conclusions: Our findings support the lack of association between HIV status and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The ARV regimen, suppressed viral load, and Tenofovir boasted ARV regimen might not affect the body's immune response after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 among PLWH. Thus, if HIV is well treated, the susceptibility to COVID-19 in PLWH would be like that of the general population.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cameroon; HIV; IgG antibodies; SARS-CoV-2.

Grants and funding

This study is part of the “The African coaLition for Epidemic Research, Response and Training, Covid-19 Clinical Characterization Protocol (ALERRT CCP)” funded by the Wellcome Trust (Ref 221012/Z/20/Z). “ALERRT” is part of the European and Developing Clinical Trial Partnership (EDCTP2) Programme 2 supported by the European Union under Grant Agreement RIA2016E-1612.