Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among People Living with HIV in Libreville, Gabon
(1) Objectives: The burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Gabon is unknown. (2) Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional seroprevalence study of SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig) G/M antibodies in PLHIV in Libreville from April 2022 to April 2023 after the fourth wave of the pandemic. We used the WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike, receptor-binding domain. (3) Results: Among 480 samples tested, the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was 87.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 77.7–97.3%). History of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, ART treatment, and TCD4 lymphocyte count were not found to be associated with the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among the study participants. However, having a detectable viral load (p = 0.0001), being vaccinated (COVID-19 vaccine, p = 0.04), and a history of COVID-19 (p < 0.0001) symptoms were associated with a higher risk of having anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. (4) Conclusions: By early 2023, PLHIV in Gabon had high rates of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in PLHIV in Gabon. This study provides further evidence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in the absence of any vaccination in a particular target population. The surveillance of diseases of global health concern in PLHIV is crucial to estimate population-level exposure and inform public health responses.
Authors
- Brama Ibrahim
- Samira Zoa‐Assoumou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2714-1781)
- Angélique Ndjoyi‐Mbiguino
- Claudine Kombila-Koumavor
- Guy Francis Nzengui Nzengui
- Gaël Mourembou
- Hervé M’boyis-Kandem
- Pelagie Saphou-Damon
- Davy Ulrich Leger Mouangala
- Marina Mbani-Okoumba
Institutions
- Université des Sciences de la Santé (GA)
- Institut Africain d'Informatique (GA)
- Université des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku (GA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- COVID
- Published
- 2024-12-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/covid5010003
- Primary Topic
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00