Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among high-risk populations in Lomé (Togo) in 2020

  1. Wemboo Afiwa Halatoko
  2. Yao Rodion Konu
  3. Fifonsi Adjidossi Gbeasor-Komlanvi
  4. Arnold Junior Sadio
  5. Martin Kouame Tchankoni
  6. Koffi Segbeaya Komlanvi
  7. Mounerou Salou
  8. Ameyo Monique Dorkenoo
  9. Issaka Maman
  10. Amétépé Agbobli
  11. Majesté Ihou Wateba
  12. Komi Séraphin Adjoh
  13. Edem Goeh-Akue
  14. Yem-bla Kao
  15. Innocent Kpeto
  16. Paul Pana
  17. Rebecca Kinde-Sossou
  18. Agbeko Tamekloe
  19. Josée Nayo-Apétsianyi
  20. Simon-Pierre Hamadi Assane
  21. Mireille Prine-David
  22. Sossinou Marcel Awoussi
  23. Mohaman Djibril
  24. Moustafa Mijiyawa
  25. Anoumou Claver Dagnra
  26. Didier Koumavi Ekouevi

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Abstract

In December 2019, the COVID-19 outbreak began in China and quickly spread throughout the world and was reclassified as a pandemic in March 2020. The first case of COVID-19 was declared in Togo on March 5. Two months later, few data were available to describe the circulation of the new coronavirus in the country.

Objective

This survey aimed to estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in high-risk populations in Lomé.

Materials and methods

From April 23, 2020, to May 8, 2020, we recruited a sample of participants from five sectors: health care, air transport, police, road transport and informal. We collected oropharyngeal swabs for direct detection through real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) and blood for antibody detection by serological tests. The overall prevalence (current and past) of infection was defined by positivity for both tests.

Results

A total of 955 participants with a median age of 36 (IQR 32–43) were included, and 71.6% (n = 684) were men. Approximately 22.1% (n = 212) were from the air transport sector, 20.5% (n = 196) were from the police sector, and 38.7% (n = 370) were from the health sector. Seven participants (0.7%, 95% CI: 0.3–1.6%) had a positive rRT-PCR test result at the time of recruitment, and nine (0.9%, 95% CI: 0.4–1.8%) were seropositive for IgM or IgG against SARS-CoV-2. We found an overall prevalence of 1.6% (n = 15), 95% CI: 0.9–2.6%.

Conclusion

The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among high-risk populations in Lomé was relatively low and could be explained by the various measures taken by the Togolese government. Therefore, we recommend targeted screening.

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  1. ScreenIT

    SciScore for 10.1101/2020.08.07.20163840: (What is this?)

    Please note, not all rigor criteria are appropriate for all manuscripts.

    Table 1: Rigor

    Institutional Review Board StatementConsent: After eligibility screening and written informed consent approval, sociodemographic characteristics and Covid-19 epidemiological data were collected using a standardized questionnaire.
    IRB: Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was obtained from the ‘Comité de Bioéthique de Recherche en Santé’ (Bioethics Committee for Health Research) from the Togo Ministry of Health (No. 004/2020/CBRS).
    Randomizationnot detected.
    Blindingnot detected.
    Power Analysisnot detected.
    Sex as a biological variablenot detected.

    Table 2: Resources

    Antibodies
    SentencesResources
    Seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection by rRT-PCR and overall prevalence of past or current infection (positive rRT-PCR or antibody seropositivity) were estimated with their 95% confidence interval (95%CI).
    SARS-CoV-2
    suggested: None

    Results from OddPub: We did not detect open data. We also did not detect open code. Researchers are encouraged to share open data when possible (see Nature blog).

    Results from LimitationRecognizer: We detected the following sentences addressing limitations in the study:
    This study had some limitations. First, the population included was not representative of the general Togolese population, we actively chose this selection criterion to have a high probability of identifying cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Second, we cannot exclude selection bias in our sample due to the recruitment methods. Based on the low prevalence, we did not study the association between prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 according to the different sectors. Finally, this study was conducted only in Lomé, capital city of Togo, where 55% of cases of Covid-19 were identified at the time of the survey.

    Results from TrialIdentifier: No clinical trial numbers were referenced.

    Results from Barzooka: We did not find any issues relating to the usage of bar graphs.

    Results from JetFighter: We did not find any issues relating to colormaps.

    Results from rtransparent:
    • Thank you for including a conflict of interest statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • Thank you for including a funding statement. Authors are encouraged to include this statement when submitting to a journal.
    • No protocol registration statement was detected.

    About SciScore

    SciScore is an automated tool that is designed to assist expert reviewers by finding and presenting formulaic information scattered throughout a paper in a standard, easy to digest format. SciScore checks for the presence and correctness of RRIDs (research resource identifiers), and for rigor criteria such as sex and investigator blinding. For details on the theoretical underpinning of rigor criteria and the tools shown here, including references cited, please follow this link.

  2. Version published to 10.1371/journal.pone.0242124
  3. Version published to 10.1101/2020.08.07.20163840 on medRxiv