SARS-CoV-2 seroepidemiology among tertiary students and health workers at the Korle-Bu community in Accra, Ghana:

Nicholas Israel Nii-Trebi; Clara Owusua  Mac-Arthur; Akua Koaso  Yalley; Anna Aba  Kafintu-Kwashie; Yaa Yeboaa   Asare; Ewurama Dedea Ampadu  Owusu; Evangeline  Obodai; Michael  Schotsaert; Afshin  Beheshti

doi:10.46829/hsijournal.2024.12.6.2.850-859

Nicholas Israel Nii-Trebi Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Clara Owusua Mac-Arthur West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Legon Accra, Ghana;
Akua Koaso Yalley Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Anna Aba Kafintu-Kwashie Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana
Yaa Yeboaa Asare Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Ewurama Dedea Ampadu Owusu Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Evangeline Obodai Department of Virology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Ghana
Michael Schotsaert Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New & York, USA & Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
Afshin Beheshti Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA & Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; 9 KBR, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46829/hsijournal.2024.12.6.2.850-859

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccination, immunity, breakthrough infections, Ghana

Abstract

Background: The COVID 19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2) has had an unprecedented impact on nations worldwide. Insight into a population s immunity level is key to implement ing effective control measures. In Ghana, despite mass exposure to the virus, vaccination coverage is still far below expectation, and to date, very few data exist on anti SARS CoV 2 immunity in the Ghanaian population
Objective: This study determined the prevalence of antibodies (IgM and IgG) in both COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals at the Korle Bu Polyclinic and a cross-section of students of the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences in Accra, Ghana..
Methods: A cross sectional study including 207 participants was conducted. Sera were obtained and tested for SARS CoV 2 specific IgG/IgM antibodies, while oropharyngeal swabs from IgM reactive individuals were tested for SARS CoV 2 RNA by RT PCR. Our stud y population comprised 207 individuals o f which 70 were vaccinated and 137 were unvaccinated.
Results: The total seropositivity in the population studied was 67·6% ( n = 140/207). The IgG seroprevalence was 60·9% ( n = 126/207). Evidence of seroconversion was observed in more of the vaccinated individuals (72·9%, n = 51/70) than in individuals who were not vaccinated (54·7%, n = 75/137). Thirteen (18·6%) of the vaccinated individuals were IgM reactive, while 19 (27.1%) w ere IgG unreactive. Seropositivity in healthcare workers was 63·2% ( n = 12/19), which was consistent with that observed for the entire study population. About 20% ( n = 9/46) of the individuals who tested positive for SARS CoV 2 specific IgM had detectable SARS CoV 2 by nucleic acid testing.
Conclusion: The results from this study show evidence of breakthrough infections and suggest a high exposure of the study population to SARS CoV 2, which might underscore a high prevalence of asymptomatic COVID 19 in Ghana despite the low hospitali s ation rate recorded at the time of sampling. This study also reaffirms the need for booster vaccination, reinforcement of COVID 19 control measures, and the need of broader serological studies in Ghana.

Author Biography

Afshin Beheshti, Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA & Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; 9 KBR, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA

Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; 9 KBR, Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, USA