Macharia Zipporah, Ogoti Brian, Otieno Magdaline, Gitonga Pauline, Bosco-Lauth Angela, Maritim Marybeth, Lemarkoko Esther, Keya Aggrey, Sankok Joseph, Gitao George, Onono Joshua, Oyugi Julius, Bowen Richard A
Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (UNITID), University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
PLoS One. 2024 Aug 8;19(8):e0308318. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308318. eCollection 2024.
Initial transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was highest in densely populated regions of Kenya. Transmission gradually trickled down to the less densely populated, remote and underserved regions such as the pastoral regions of Kajiado County which are characterized by poor healthcare systems. Molecular assays that were pivotal for COVID-19 diagnosis were not available in these regions. Serology is an alternative method for retrospectively tracking the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in such populations. Dry blood spots (DBS) were prepared from consenting patients attending six health facilities in Kajiado County from March 2020 to March 2022. Upon elution, we conducted an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of SARS-Cov-2 IgG antibodies. Of the 908 DBSs we analyzed, 706 (78%) were from female participants. The overall seropositivity to SARS-Cov-2 antibodies was 7.3% (95% CI 5.7-9.1). The elderly (over 60 years) and male participants had a high likelihood of testing positive for SAR-CoV-2 infections. Mashuru (15.6%, 14/90) and Meto (15%, 19/127) health facilities registered the highest proportion of seropositive participants. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission among pastoralists in the remote and underserved regions of Kajiado County was established by DBS sampling and serologic testing.
严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2型（SARS-CoV-2）在肯尼亚人口密集地区的初始传播率最高。传播逐渐蔓延到人口密度较低、偏远且医疗服务不足的地区，如卡贾多县的牧区，这些地区的医疗系统较差。这些地区没有对2019冠状病毒病诊断至关重要的分子检测方法。血清学是回顾性追踪此类人群中SARS-CoV-2传播的一种替代方法。从2020年3月至2022年3月，从卡贾多县六家医疗机构同意参与的患者中采集干血斑（DBS）。洗脱后，我们进行了酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）以检测SARS-CoV-2 IgG抗体。在我们分析的908份干血斑中，706份（78%）来自女性参与者。SARS-CoV-2抗体的总体血清阳性率为7.3%（95%置信区间5.7 - 9.1）。老年人（60岁以上）和男性参与者感染SARS-CoV-2检测呈阳性的可能性较高。马舒鲁（15.6%，14/90）和梅托（15%，19/127）医疗机构的血清阳性参与者比例最高。通过干血斑采样和血清学检测，证实了卡贾多县偏远和医疗服务不足地区牧民中存在SARS-CoV-2传播。
