Prevalence of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Sellers at Two Main Goma Markets in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Mitangala Ndeba Prudence *
Université Officielle de Ruwenzori, Butembo, Nord Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo and Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Sud Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo and ULB Coopération Nord Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo.
Irenge Mwana Wa Bene Léonid
Département des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Université de Bordeaux, France.
Musubao Tsongo Edgar
ULB Coopération Nord Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo.
Jean Bosco Kahindo Mbeva
ULB Coopération Nord Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo.
Ayonga Ndeba Patrick
Département des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Université de Bordeaux, France.
Safari Kyembwa Israël
Inspection Provinciale de la Santé du Nord Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo.
Kubuya Bonane Janvier
Division Provinciale de la Santé du Nord Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo.
Ntabe Namegabe Edmon
Université Libre des pays des grands Lacs, Goma Nord Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo.
Kabangwa Kakongo Senga Raphaël
Laboratoire Provincial Ami Labo Nord Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo.
Mutombo Ndongala Guy
Division Provinciale de la Santé du Nord Kivu – République Démocratique du Congo.
Jean Luc Gala
Center for Applied Molecular Technologies, Institute of Clinical and Experimental Research, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) Avenue Hippocrate 54/B1.54.01, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: Official data on Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) show a low prevalence. This study assessed the seroprevalence of antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the two main markets of Goma city, in the eastern DRC.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in 454 sellers in Kituku and Virunga markets between September 1st and November 08th, 2021. Participants were asked to answer a questionnaire survey on COVID-19 symptoms and their attitudes against COVID-19, including whether they had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in blood samples was investigated using QuickZen®.
Results: The median (minimum-maximum) age of participants was 27.4 years (13.4-88.3). Participants aged 15 to 40 years old made up 80.6 % of the participants enrolled in the study (n=454), with women accounting for 65.1 % of all participants. No participant in the study had been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.
The overall crude and adjusted seroprevalence rates of antibodies anti-SARS-CoV-2 were 73.8 % (95 % CI 69.7-77.9) and 82.7 % (95 % CI 79.2 % -86.2 %), respectively. COVID-19 symptoms were absent for 43,1% (n = 332) of the participants with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. During the same period, none of the participants with anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies required hospitalization.
Conclusion: We discovered a high seroprevalence of anti-SARS-Cov-2 antibodies in the sellers at the two main Goma markets without any record of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. No severe COVID-19 symptoms were reported among participants.
Keywords: Democratic Republic of Congo, antibodies, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, seroprevalence