Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Seroprevalence in Accra, Ghana during the Delta-Omicron Waves

Irene Owusu Donkor
* ORCID logo ,
Elvis Suatey Lomotey
,
Jewelna Akorli
,
Millicent Opoku
,
Emmanuel Frimpong Gyekye
,
Kojo M. Sedzro
,
Nana Efua Andoh
,
Yvonne Ashong
,
Benjamin Abuaku
,
Kwadwo Ansah Koram
,
Vincent Munster
ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 19 September 2022 / Approved: 26 September 2022 / Online: 26 September 2022 (09:41:01 CEST)

How to cite: Owusu Donkor, I.; Lomotey, E.S.; Akorli, J.; Opoku, M.; Frimpong Gyekye, E.; Sedzro, K.M.; Andoh, N.E.; Ashong, Y.; Abuaku, B.; Koram, K.A.; Munster, V. Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Seroprevalence in Accra, Ghana during the Delta-Omicron Waves. Preprints 2022, 2022090390. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202209.0390.v1 Owusu Donkor, I.; Lomotey, E.S.; Akorli, J.; Opoku, M.; Frimpong Gyekye, E.; Sedzro, K.M.; Andoh, N.E.; Ashong, Y.; Abuaku, B.; Koram, K.A.; Munster, V. Determination of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Seroprevalence in Accra, Ghana during the Delta-Omicron Waves. Preprints 2022, 2022090390. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202209.0390.v1

Abstract

A significant proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Africa are identified as asymptomatic, facilitating the silent spread of the virus especially in populated urban cities. With the surge of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, the inclusion of asymptomatics in epidemiological surveys is key in estimating true infections and seroprevalence in the population. The aim of the study was to determine seroprevalence, active infection and circulating variants in Accra, the capital city of Ghana during the Omicron wave. The study was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 22 municipalities in December 2021. Naso-oropharyngeal swabs and serum samples were collected from 1027 individuals aged 5 years and above, for detection of infection by RT-qPCR and estimation of total antibodies using the WANTAI ELISA kit. Our results show 10% SARS-CoV-2 prevalence, with the Omicron and Delta variants accounting for 44.1% and 8.8% of infections, respectively. Omicron was most prevalent (48.9.%) among the 20–39-year-olds. Asymptomatic individuals accounted for 75.2% of infections. Seropositivity within the population was 86.8%, with the 60+ year group having significantly higher likelihood of exposure (OR 10.22: 95% CI: 3.51-29.73; p<0.001). This high seroprevalence appears to have been as a result of increased vaccination among this group (OR 2.7: 95% CI 1.78-4.09, p < 0.001). The high seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 in the capital could be a good indication of herd immunity among the population and while the low infection rate supports the role of vaccination in reducing viral transmission.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; asymptomatic; seroprevalence; Delta variant; Omicron variant; vaccination

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Virology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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