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Lower SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence among Cancer Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa

For Yue Tso1, Salum J Lidenge2,3, John R Ngowi2

  • 1Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, and the Stanley S Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|August 12, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) showed high COVID-19 seroprevalence, but cancer patients had lower rates than blood donors. Further research is needed to understand this finding and its impact on COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious disease epidemiology
  • Oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) exhibits lower reported COVID-19 morbidity and mortality despite high global rates and strained healthcare systems.
  • Cancer patients are considered a high-risk group for severe COVID-19, necessitating investigation into their specific epidemiological patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in unvaccinated cancer patients and potential blood donors in SSA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • To explore factors associated with COVID-19 seroprevalence and symptom severity in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of plasma samples from unvaccinated cancer patients and potential blood donors for SARS-CoV-2 (spike and nucleocapsid proteins) antibodies using immunofluorescence assay.
  • Logistic regression analysis to determine relationships between SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and study variables.

Main Results:

  • High seroprevalence against SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins was observed in the unvaccinated populations studied in SSA.
  • Cancer patients exhibited a lower SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence compared to potential blood donors.
  • A correlation was found between mild COVID-19 symptoms and prior tuberculosis vaccination among cancer patients.

Conclusions:

  • Cancer patients in SSA demonstrate a lower SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence than potential blood donors from similar regions during the pandemic.
  • Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the reasons for this disparity and its implications for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategies in cancer patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2cancerseroprevalencesub-Saharan Africatuberculosis

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