High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in Bamako, Mali

Anou M. Somboro; Yacouba Cissoko; Issiaka Camara; Ousmane Kodio; Mohamed Tolofoudie; Etienne Dembele; Antieme C.G. Togo; Djibril M. Ba; Yeya Dit Sadio Sarro; Bocar Baya; Seydou Samake; Ibrahim B. Diallo; Alisha Kumar; Mohamed Traore; Bourahima Kone; Amadou Kone; Bassirou Diarra; Djeneba K. Dabitao; Mamadou Wague; Garan Dabo; Seydou Doumbia; Jane L. Holl; Robert L. Murphy; Souleymane Diallo; Almoustapha I. Maiga; Mamoudou Maiga; Sounkalo Dao

doi:10.3390/v14010102

High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in Bamako, Mali

Anou M. Somboro^*, Yacouba Cissoko, Issiaka Camara, Ousmane Kodio, Mohamed Tolofoudie, Etienne Dembele, Antieme C.G. Togo, Djibril M. Ba, Yeya Dit Sadio Sarro, Bocar Baya, Seydou Samake, Ibrahim B. Diallo, Alisha Kumar, Mohamed Traore, Bourahima Kone, Amadou Kone, Bassirou Diarra, Djeneba K. Dabitao, Mamadou Wague, Garan DaboSeydou Doumbia, Jane L. Holl, Robert L. Murphy, Souleymane Diallo, Almoustapha I. Maiga, Mamoudou Maiga, Sounkalo Dao

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

In Mali, a country in West Africa, cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths among healthcare workers (HCWs) remain enigmatically low, despite a series of waves, circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the country’s weak healthcare system, and a general lack of adherence to public health mitigation measures. The goal of the study was to determine whether exposure is important by assessing the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in HCWs. The study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2021. HCWs in the major hospitals where COVID-19 cases were being cared for in the capital city, Bamako, Mali, were recruited. During the study period, vaccinations were not yet available. The ELISA of the IgG against the spike protein was optimized and quantitatively measured. A total of 240 HCWs were enrolled in the study, of which seropositivity was observed in 147 cases (61.8%). A continuous increase in the seropositivity was observed, over time, during the study period, from 50% at the beginning to 70% at the end of the study. HCWs who provided direct care to COVID-19 patients and were potentially highly exposed did not have the highest seropositivity rate. Vulnerable HCWs with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and asthma had even higher seropositivity rates at 77.8%, 75.0%, and 66.7%, respectively. Overall, HCWs had high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, likely reflecting a “herd” immunity level, which could be protective at some degrees. These data suggest that the low number of cases and deaths among HCWs in Mali is not due to a lack of occupational exposure to the virus but rather related to other factors that need to be investigated.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	102
Journal	Viruses
Volume	14
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/v14010102
State	Published - Jan 2022

Funding

Funding: This work was supported by the Northwestern University’s Institute for Global Health Catalyzer program, the National Institutes of Health, and the HBNU Consortium, Fogarty International Center (D43CA260658, D43TW010350 D43TW010543, and R21AI148033). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Keywords

Bamako
COVID-19
Healthcare workers
Mali
SARS-CoV-2
Seroprevalence
West Africa

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Infectious Diseases
Virology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.3390/v14010102

Cite this

Somboro, A. M., Cissoko, Y., Camara, I., Kodio, O., Tolofoudie, M., Dembele, E., Togo, A. C. G., Ba, D. M., Sarro, Y. D. S., Baya, B., Samake, S., Diallo, I. B., Kumar, A., Traore, M., Kone, B., Kone, A., Diarra, B., Dabitao, D. K., Wague, M., ... Dao, S. (2022). High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in Bamako, Mali. Viruses, 14(1), Article 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14010102

@article{af37003b5e914f7f9eae8f29af476604,

title = "High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in Bamako, Mali",

abstract = "In Mali, a country in West Africa, cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths among healthcare workers (HCWs) remain enigmatically low, despite a series of waves, circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the country{\textquoteright}s weak healthcare system, and a general lack of adherence to public health mitigation measures. The goal of the study was to determine whether exposure is important by assessing the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in HCWs. The study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2021. HCWs in the major hospitals where COVID-19 cases were being cared for in the capital city, Bamako, Mali, were recruited. During the study period, vaccinations were not yet available. The ELISA of the IgG against the spike protein was optimized and quantitatively measured. A total of 240 HCWs were enrolled in the study, of which seropositivity was observed in 147 cases (61.8%). A continuous increase in the seropositivity was observed, over time, during the study period, from 50% at the beginning to 70% at the end of the study. HCWs who provided direct care to COVID-19 patients and were potentially highly exposed did not have the highest seropositivity rate. Vulnerable HCWs with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and asthma had even higher seropositivity rates at 77.8%, 75.0%, and 66.7%, respectively. Overall, HCWs had high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, likely reflecting a “herd” immunity level, which could be protective at some degrees. These data suggest that the low number of cases and deaths among HCWs in Mali is not due to a lack of occupational exposure to the virus but rather related to other factors that need to be investigated.",

keywords = "Bamako, COVID-19, Healthcare workers, Mali, SARS-CoV-2, Seroprevalence, West Africa",

author = "Somboro, {Anou M.} and Yacouba Cissoko and Issiaka Camara and Ousmane Kodio and Mohamed Tolofoudie and Etienne Dembele and Togo, {Antieme C.G.} and Ba, {Djibril M.} and Sarro, {Yeya Dit Sadio} and Bocar Baya and Seydou Samake and Diallo, {Ibrahim B.} and Alisha Kumar and Mohamed Traore and Bourahima Kone and Amadou Kone and Bassirou Diarra and Dabitao, {Djeneba K.} and Mamadou Wague and Garan Dabo and Seydou Doumbia and Holl, {Jane L.} and Murphy, {Robert L.} and Souleymane Diallo and Maiga, {Almoustapha I.} and Mamoudou Maiga and Sounkalo Dao",

note = "Funding Information: Funding: This work was supported by the Northwestern University{\textquoteright}s Institute for Global Health Catalyzer program, the National Institutes of Health, and the HBNU Consortium, Fogarty International Center (D43CA260658, D43TW010350 D43TW010543, and R21AI148033). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.",

year = "2022",

month = jan,

doi = "10.3390/v14010102",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "14",

journal = "Viruses",

issn = "1999-4915",

publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)",

number = "1",

}

Somboro, AM, Cissoko, Y, Camara, I, Kodio, O, Tolofoudie, M, Dembele, E, Togo, ACG, Ba, DM, Sarro, YDS, Baya, B, Samake, S, Diallo, IB, Kumar, A, Traore, M, Kone, B, Kone, A, Diarra, B, Dabitao, DK, Wague, M, Dabo, G, Doumbia, S, Holl, JL, Murphy, RL, Diallo, S, Maiga, AI, Maiga, M & Dao, S 2022, 'High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in Bamako, Mali', Viruses, vol. 14, no. 1, 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14010102

TY - JOUR

T1 - High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in Bamako, Mali

AU - Somboro, Anou M.

AU - Cissoko, Yacouba

AU - Camara, Issiaka

AU - Kodio, Ousmane

AU - Tolofoudie, Mohamed

AU - Dembele, Etienne

AU - Togo, Antieme C.G.

AU - Ba, Djibril M.

AU - Sarro, Yeya Dit Sadio

AU - Baya, Bocar

AU - Samake, Seydou

AU - Diallo, Ibrahim B.

AU - Kumar, Alisha

AU - Traore, Mohamed

AU - Kone, Bourahima

AU - Kone, Amadou

AU - Diarra, Bassirou

AU - Dabitao, Djeneba K.

AU - Wague, Mamadou

AU - Dabo, Garan

AU - Doumbia, Seydou

AU - Holl, Jane L.

AU - Murphy, Robert L.

AU - Diallo, Souleymane

AU - Maiga, Almoustapha I.

AU - Maiga, Mamoudou

AU - Dao, Sounkalo

N1 - Funding Information: Funding: This work was supported by the Northwestern University’s Institute for Global Health Catalyzer program, the National Institutes of Health, and the HBNU Consortium, Fogarty International Center (D43CA260658, D43TW010350 D43TW010543, and R21AI148033). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

PY - 2022/1

Y1 - 2022/1

N2 - In Mali, a country in West Africa, cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths among healthcare workers (HCWs) remain enigmatically low, despite a series of waves, circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the country’s weak healthcare system, and a general lack of adherence to public health mitigation measures. The goal of the study was to determine whether exposure is important by assessing the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in HCWs. The study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2021. HCWs in the major hospitals where COVID-19 cases were being cared for in the capital city, Bamako, Mali, were recruited. During the study period, vaccinations were not yet available. The ELISA of the IgG against the spike protein was optimized and quantitatively measured. A total of 240 HCWs were enrolled in the study, of which seropositivity was observed in 147 cases (61.8%). A continuous increase in the seropositivity was observed, over time, during the study period, from 50% at the beginning to 70% at the end of the study. HCWs who provided direct care to COVID-19 patients and were potentially highly exposed did not have the highest seropositivity rate. Vulnerable HCWs with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and asthma had even higher seropositivity rates at 77.8%, 75.0%, and 66.7%, respectively. Overall, HCWs had high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, likely reflecting a “herd” immunity level, which could be protective at some degrees. These data suggest that the low number of cases and deaths among HCWs in Mali is not due to a lack of occupational exposure to the virus but rather related to other factors that need to be investigated.

AB - In Mali, a country in West Africa, cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths among healthcare workers (HCWs) remain enigmatically low, despite a series of waves, circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the country’s weak healthcare system, and a general lack of adherence to public health mitigation measures. The goal of the study was to determine whether exposure is important by assessing the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in HCWs. The study was conducted between November 2020 and June 2021. HCWs in the major hospitals where COVID-19 cases were being cared for in the capital city, Bamako, Mali, were recruited. During the study period, vaccinations were not yet available. The ELISA of the IgG against the spike protein was optimized and quantitatively measured. A total of 240 HCWs were enrolled in the study, of which seropositivity was observed in 147 cases (61.8%). A continuous increase in the seropositivity was observed, over time, during the study period, from 50% at the beginning to 70% at the end of the study. HCWs who provided direct care to COVID-19 patients and were potentially highly exposed did not have the highest seropositivity rate. Vulnerable HCWs with comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and asthma had even higher seropositivity rates at 77.8%, 75.0%, and 66.7%, respectively. Overall, HCWs had high SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence, likely reflecting a “herd” immunity level, which could be protective at some degrees. These data suggest that the low number of cases and deaths among HCWs in Mali is not due to a lack of occupational exposure to the virus but rather related to other factors that need to be investigated.

KW - Bamako

KW - COVID-19

KW - Healthcare workers

KW - Mali

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Seroprevalence

KW - West Africa

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DO - 10.3390/v14010102

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AN - SCOPUS:85122452249

SN - 1999-4915

VL - 14

JO - Viruses

JF - Viruses

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ER -

High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Healthcare Workers in Bamako, Mali

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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