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Francisco NM, van Wyk S, Moir M, San JE, Sebastião CS, Tegally H, Xavier J, Maharaj A, Neto Z, Afonso P, Jandondo D, Paixão J, Miranda J, David K, Inglês L, Pereira A, Paulo A, Carralero RR, Freitas HR, Mufinda F, Lutucuta S, Ghafari M, Giovanetti M, Giandhari J, Pillay S, Naidoo Y, Singh L, Tshiabuila D, Martin DP, Chabuka L, Choga W, Wanjohi D, Mwangi S, Pillay Y, Kebede Y, Shumba E, Ondoa P, Baxter C, Wilkinson E, Tessema SK, Katzourakis A, Lessells R, de Oliveira T, Morais J. Insights into SARS-CoV-2 in Angola during the COVID-19 peak: Molecular epidemiology and genome surveillance. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2023; 17:e13198. [PMID: 37744993 PMCID: PMC10515134 DOI: 10.1111/irv.13198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In Angola, COVID-19 cases have been reported in all provinces, resulting in >105,000 cases and >1900 deaths. However, no detailed genomic surveillance into the introduction and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been conducted in Angola. We aimed to investigate the emergence and epidemic progression during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Angola. Methods We generated 1210 whole-genome SARS-CoV-2 sequences, contributing West African data to the global context, that were phylogenetically compared against global strains. Virus movement events were inferred using ancestral state reconstruction. Results The epidemic in Angola was marked by four distinct waves of infection, dominated by 12 virus lineages, including VOCs, VOIs, and the VUM C.16, which was unique to South-Western Africa and circulated for an extended period within the region. Virus exchanges occurred between Angola and its neighboring countries, and strong links with Brazil and Portugal reflected the historical and cultural ties shared between these countries. The first case likely originated from southern Africa. Conclusion A lack of a robust genome surveillance network and strong dependence on out-of-country sequencing limit real-time data generation to achieve timely disease outbreak responses, which remains of the utmost importance to mitigate future disease outbreaks in Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngiambudulu M. Francisco
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | - Stephanie van Wyk
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Monika Moir
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - James Emmanuel San
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Cruz S. Sebastião
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA)CaxitoAngola
| | - Houriiyah Tegally
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Joicymara Xavier
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Akhil Maharaj
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | | | - Pedro Afonso
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | - Domingos Jandondo
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | - Joana Paixão
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | - Julio Miranda
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | - Kumbelembe David
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | - Luzia Inglês
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | - Amilton Pereira
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | - Agostinho Paulo
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | - Raisa Rivas Carralero
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
| | | | | | | | - Mahan Ghafari
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Marta Giovanetti
- Reference Laboratory of FlavivirusOswaldo Cruz FoundationRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Jennifer Giandhari
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Sureshnee Pillay
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Yeshnee Naidoo
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Lavanya Singh
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Derek Tshiabuila
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Darren Patrick Martin
- Division of Computational Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Lucious Chabuka
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Wonderful Choga
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Dorcas Wanjohi
- Africa CDC Institute of Pathogen GenomicsAfrica Centre for Disease Control and PreventionAddis AbabaEthiopia
| | - Sarah Mwangi
- Africa CDC Institute of Pathogen GenomicsAfrica Centre for Disease Control and PreventionAddis AbabaEthiopia
| | - Yusasha Pillay
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
| | - Yenew Kebede
- Africa CDC Institute of Pathogen GenomicsAfrica Centre for Disease Control and PreventionAddis AbabaEthiopia
| | - Edwin Shumba
- African Society for Laboratory MedicineAddis AbabaEthiopia
| | - Pascale Ondoa
- African Society for Laboratory MedicineAddis AbabaEthiopia
| | - Cheryl Baxter
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Eduan Wilkinson
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Sofonias Kifle Tessema
- Africa CDC Institute of Pathogen GenomicsAfrica Centre for Disease Control and PreventionAddis AbabaEthiopia
| | - Aris Katzourakis
- Department of BiologyOxford UniversityOxfordUK
- Big Data Institute, Nuffield Department of MedicineUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Richard Lessells
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Tulio de Oliveira
- Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational ThinkingStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), Nelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Joana Morais
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e ImunológicaInstituto Nacional de Investigação em SaúdeLuandaAngola
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Sebastião CS, Sacomboio E, Francisco NM, Cassinela EK, Mateus A, David Z, Pimentel V, Paixão J, Neto de Vasconcelos J, Morais J. Blood pressure pattern among blood donors exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in Luanda, Angola: A retrospective study. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1498. [PMID: 37599663 PMCID: PMC10432586 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims SARS-CoV-2 infection is a public health concern. Several aspects related to the pattern of infection remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the blood pressure pattern among blood donors exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in Luanda, Angola, a sub-Saharan African country. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis containing 343 blood donors from December 2019 to September 2020. Parametric tests compared means while χ 2 and logistic regression checked features associated with high blood pressure and were considered significant when p < 0.05. Results The mean age of blood donors was 32.2 ± 8.81 years (ranging from 18 to 61 years) and 93% of the men's gender. Overall, 4.7% of the studied population had been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. High blood pressure prevalence increased from unexposed to exposed SARS-CoV-2 (6.7%-18.8%, p = 0.071). SARS-CoV-2 exposure increase systole (131 ± 12.2 mmHg to 136 ± 14.2 mmHg, p = 0.098), diastole (79.9 ± 9.53 mmHg to 84.2 ± 12.7 mmHg, p = 0.086), pulse in beats per minute (72.0 ± 11.1 to 73.7 ± 8.50, p = 0.553), and decrease donating time (6.31 ± 3.72 min to 5.48 ± 1.61 min, p = 0.371). Chances of having high blood pressure were high [OR: 3.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85-12.1), p = 0.086] in exposed SARS-CoV-2. Donors exposed to SARS-CoV-2 with abnormal donation time increased from the donor up to 40 years to over 40 years (from 35.7% to 50%, p = 0.696). The mean systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure were higher for non-O donors (p > 0.05). A significant link was observed, between the Rhesus factor and blood pressure status (p = 0.032). Conclusion We showed important variations in blood pressure indices of the Angolan population exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Older age and non-O blood groups appear to be important biological factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the risk of developing cardiovascular disease after or during SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Further studies assessing the impact on cardiovascular functions with ongoing or long-term SARS-CoV-2 exposure in individuals from resource-limited countries should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cruz S. Sebastião
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA)CaxitoAngola
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde (ICISA)LuandaAngola
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM)Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT)LisbonPortugal
| | - Euclides Sacomboio
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
- Instituto de Ciências da Saúde (ICISA)LuandaAngola
- Centro de EstudosInvestigação Cientifica e Pós‐graduação (CEIP)LuandaAngola
| | | | - Edson K. Cassinela
- Centro de EstudosInvestigação Cientifica e Pós‐graduação (CEIP)LuandaAngola
- Centro Nacional de Investigação Científica (CNIC)LuandaAngola
| | - António Mateus
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
| | - Zinga David
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
| | - Victor Pimentel
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM)Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT)LisbonPortugal
| | - Joana Paixão
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
| | - Jocelyne Neto de Vasconcelos
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA)CaxitoAngola
| | - Joana Morais
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM)Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT)LisbonPortugal
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Harris M, Hart J, Bhattacharya O, Russell FM. Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic literature review. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1178167. [PMID: 37583888 PMCID: PMC10424847 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1178167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Identifying SARS-CoV-2 infection risk factors allows targeted public health and social measures (PHSM). As new, more transmissible variants of concern (VoC) emerge, vaccination rates increase and PHSM are eased, it is important to understand any potential change to infection risk factors. The aim of this systematic literature review is to describe the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection by VoC. Methods A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, PubMed and Embase databases on 5 May 2022. Eligibility included: observational studies published in English after 1 January 2020; any age group; the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection; and any potential risk factors investigated in the study. Results were synthesized into a narrative summary with respect to measures of association, by VoC. ROBINS-E tool was utilized for risk of bias assessment. Results Of 6,197 studies retrieved, 43 studies were included after screening. Common risk factors included older age, minority ethnic group, low socioeconomic status, male gender, increased household size, occupation/lower income level, inability to work from home, public transport use, and lower education level. Most studies were undertaken when the ancestral strain was predominant. Many studies had some selection bias due to testing criteria and limited laboratory capacity. Conclusion Understanding who is at risk enables the development of strategies that target priority groups at each of the different stages of a pandemic and helps inform vaccination strategies and other interventions which may also inform public health responses to future respiratory infection outbreaks. While it was not possible to determine changes to infection risk by recent VoC in this review, the risk factors identified will add to the overall understanding of the groups who are at greatest risk of infection in the early stages of a respiratory virus outbreak. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022330706, PROSPERO [CRD42022330706].
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Harris
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Asia-Pacific Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - John Hart
- Asia-Pacific Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Oashe Bhattacharya
- Asia-Pacific Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Fiona M. Russell
- Asia-Pacific Health Group, Infection, Immunity and Global Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for International Child Health, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Sebastião CS, Sacomboio E, Francisco NM, Cassinela EK, Mateus A, David Z, Paixão J, de Vasconcelos JN, Morais J. Immune profile of healthcare professionals six months after vaccination or exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Angola. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1058. [PMID: 36644315 PMCID: PMC9832527 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a public health concern. Until 2021, more than 2 million cumulative deaths were reported worldwide. Herein, we investigated the immune profile of healthcare professionals 6 months after vaccination or exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in Angola. Methods This was a prospective study conducted with 1068 Angolan healthcare professionals between August and December 2021. Participants were screened for the presence of IgG and IgM against SARS-CoV-2. Results About 9.6% and 98.2% of the participants had prior exposure to SARS-CoV-2 or vaccination against it, respectively. Participants aged between 20 and 40 years (11.2%), female (12.4%), with higher educational level (12.8%), from Luanda (60.3%), and nonhealthcare professionals (8.1%) were the most affected by the SARS-CoV-2. Gender, education, and local residence were related to SARS-CoV-2 exposure (p < 0.05). About 7.3% and 98% of the exposed population developed IgM and IgG after 3 months of exposure, respectively. The AstraZeneca vaccine was the most used, followed by the Jonhson & Johnson and Sputinik. Almost all (98%) participants vaccinated with AstraZeneca had immunity >3 months. Individuals who received only the first dose regardless of the type of vaccine had a higher immunity duration (>3 months) than those who received two doses. For individuals who received the Sputnik and Johnson, the average immunity was lower (<3 months), especially among those who were older (over 40 years old) and exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion We observed a high adherence rate to vaccination and a long immunity duration. The immunity duration depended on the type of vaccine. Further studies on the immunity profile in the population exposed to SARS-CoV-2 must be carried out in the general population from Angola to assess antibody-waning periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cruz S. Sebastião
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA)CaxitoAngola,Instituto de Ciências da Saúde (ICISA)Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN)LuandaAngola
| | - Euclides Sacomboio
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola,Instituto de Ciências da Saúde (ICISA)Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN)LuandaAngola,Centro de Estudos, Investigação Científica e Pós‐graduação (CEIP)Universidade Privada de Angola (UPRA)LuandaAngola
| | | | - Edson K. Cassinela
- Centro de Estudos, Investigação Científica e Pós‐graduação (CEIP)Universidade Privada de Angola (UPRA)LuandaAngola,Centro Nacional de Investigação Científica (CNIC)LuandaAngola
| | - António Mateus
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
| | - Zinga David
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
| | - Joana Paixão
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
| | - Jocelyne Neto de Vasconcelos
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola,Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA)CaxitoAngola
| | - Joana Morais
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
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Benita F, Rebollar-Ruelas L, Gaytán-Alfaro ED. What have we learned about socioeconomic inequalities in the spread of COVID-19? A systematic review. SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY 2022; 86:104158. [PMID: 36060423 PMCID: PMC9428120 DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2022.104158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This article aims to provide a better understanding of the associations between groups of socioeconomic variables and confirmed cases of COVID-19. The focus is on cross-continental differences of reported positive, negative, unclear, or no associations. A systematic review of the literature is conducted on the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. Our search identifies 314 eligible studies published on or before 31 December 2021. We detect nine groups of frequently used socioeconomic variables and results are presented by region of the world (Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, North American and South America). The review expands to describe the most used statistical and modelling techniques as well as inclusion of additional dimensions such as demographic, healthcare weather and mobility. Meanwhile findings agree on the generalized positive impact of population density, per capita GDP and urban areas on transmission of infections, contradictory results have been found concerning to educational level and income.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Benita
- Engineering Systems and Design, Singapore University of Technology and Design, 8 Somapah Road, Singapore 487372, Singapore
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Clinical Features Related to Severity and Mortality among COVID-19 Patients in a Pre-Vaccine Period in Luanda, Angola. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:tropicalmed7110338. [PMID: 36355881 PMCID: PMC9693333 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with clinical features of diverse severity. Few studies investigated the severity and mortality predictors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Africa. Herein, we investigated the clinical features of severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients in Luanda, Angola. Methods: This multicenter cohort study involved 101 COVID-19 patients, between December 2020 and April 2021, with clinical and laboratory data collected. Analysis was done using independent-sample t-tests and Chi-square tests. The results were deemed significant when p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of patients was 51 years (ranging from 18 to 80 years) and 60.4% were male. Fever (46%), cough (47%), gastrointestinal symptoms (26.7%), and asthenia (26.7%), were the most common symptoms. About 64.4% of the patients presented coexistent disorders, including hypertension (42%), diabetes (17%), and chronic renal diseases (6%). About 23% were non-severe, 77% were severe, and 10% died during hospitalization. Variations in the concentration of neutrophil, urea, creatinine, c-reactive protein, sodium, creatine kinase, and chloride were independently associated with severity and/or mortality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Several factors contributed to the severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients in Angola. Further studies related to clinical features should be carried out to help clinical decision-making and follow-up of COVID-19 patients in Angola.
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Paixao J, Galangue M, Gaston C, Carralero R, Lino C, Júlio G, David Z, Francisco M, Sebastião CS, Sacomboio ENM, Morais J, Francisco NM. Early Evidence of Circulating SARS-CoV-2 in Unvaccinated and Vaccinated Measles Patients, September 2019–February 2020. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:533-544. [PMID: 35221698 PMCID: PMC8865870 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s344437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The global emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has challenged healthcare and rapidly spread over the globe. Early detection of new infections is crucial in the control of emerging diseases. Evidence of early recorded COVID-19 cases outside China has been documented in various countries. In this study, we aimed to identify the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection circulation by retrospectively analyzing sera of measles patients, weeks before the reported first COVID-19 cases in Angola. Materials and Methods We examined the humoral response against SARS-CoV-2 by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based assay on a combined two-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay method. In total, we received 568 study patients with blood specimens collected from 23 September 2019 to 28 February 2020, 442 sera samples that met the criteria of the study were withdrawn and selected from the overall 568 received samples. In this study, we considered seropositives, patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies with the index value >1. Results Of the 442 sera samples that met the criteria of the study, 204 were measles seropositive. Forty out of 204 were confirmed reactive to SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins using IgG and IgM more than 2 weeks before the first reported case in Angola. The humoral response analysis showed significant differences (p = 0.01) between the IgG and IgM indexes in the unvaccinated measles patients. Similarly, a significant difference (p = 0.001) was seen between the IgG and IgM indexes in the vaccinated measles patients. Conclusion Here, using the humoral response analysis, we report the identification of early circulation SARS-CoV-2 infection weeks before the first recognized cases in the Republic of Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Paixao
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Unidade de Ensino e Investigação de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Galangue
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Celestina Gaston
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Raísa Carralero
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Celestina Lino
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Gracieth Júlio
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Zinga David
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Moises Francisco
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
| | - Cruz S Sebastião
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola, Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Euclides N M Sacomboio
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências de Saúde, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Joana Morais
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | - Ngiambudulu M Francisco
- Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Luanda, Angola
- Correspondence: Ngiambudulu M Francisco, Grupo de Investigação Microbiana e Imunológica, Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (National Institute for Health Research), Rua: Amílcar Cabral, No. 96, por trás do Hospital Josina Machel, P.O. Box: 3635, Luanda, Angola, Tel +244 931 36 1717, Email
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Sebastião CS, Gaston C, Paixão JP, Sacomboio ENM, Neto Z, de Vasconcelos JN, Morais J. Coinfection between SARS-CoV-2 and vector-borne diseases in Luanda, Angola. J Med Virol 2022; 94:366-371. [PMID: 34546584 PMCID: PMC8662186 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Co-epidemics happening simultaneously can generate a burden on healthcare systems. The co-occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 with vector-borne diseases (VBD), such as malaria and dengue in resource-limited settings represents an additional challenge to the healthcare systems. Herein, we assessed the coinfection rate between SARS-CoV-2 and VBD to highlight the need to carry out an accurate diagnosis and promote timely measures for these infections in Luanda, the capital city of Angola. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 105 subjects tested for the SARS-CoV-2 and VBD with a rapid detection test in April 2021. The participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (3.80%), malaria (13.3%), and dengue (27.6%). Low odds related to testing positivity to SARS-CoV-2 or VBD were observed in participants above or equal to 40 years (odds ratio [OR]: 0.60, p = 0.536), while higher odds were observed in male (OR: 1.44, p = 0.392) and urbanized areas (OR: 3.78, p = 0.223). The overall co-infection rate between SARS-CoV-2 and VBD was 11.4%. Our findings showed a coinfection between SARS-CoV-2 with malaria and dengue, which could indicate the need to integrate the screening for VBD in the SARS-CoV-2 testing algorithm and the adjustment of treatment protocols. Further studies are warranted to better elucidate the relationship between COVID-19 and VBD in Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cruz S. Sebastião
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA)CaxitoAngola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde (ISCISA)Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN)LuandaAngola
| | | | | | - Euclides N. M. Sacomboio
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde (ISCISA)Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN)LuandaAngola
| | - Zoraima Neto
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
| | - Jocelyne Neto de Vasconcelos
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA)CaxitoAngola
| | - Joana Morais
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS)LuandaAngola
- Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade Agostinho NetoLuandaAngola
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9
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Sebastião CS, Parimbelli P, Mendes M, Sacomboio E, Morais J, de Vasconcelos JN, Brito M. Prevalence and Risk Factors of SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Parturients and Newborns from Luanda, Angola. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111494. [PMID: 34832649 PMCID: PMC8624220 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China in December 2019, creating a massive public health concern. Although previous studies have identified SARS-CoV-2 in pregnant women, the possibility of transmission to newborns remains uncertain. Herein, we investigated SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk factors among parturients and newborns. This was a cross-sectional study carried out with 3633 parturients from Luanda, Angola, between January and April 2021, with an age ranging from 13 to 48 years. SARS-CoV-2 infection of the parturients was further confirmed with RT-PCR after COVID-19 Ag Rapid Testing. About 0.4% of parturients tested positive on the day of delivery. Surprisingly, parturients from urbanized areas (OR: 0.18, p = 0.025) had a low chance of infection. None of the newborns tested positive in the first 24 h after birth, while one (9.1%, 1/10) of the newborns tested positive with pharyngeal swabs seven days after birth. However, whether the case was due to vertical transmission from mother to child remains to be confirmed. The mother’s residence, education level, antenatal follow-up, and delivery category were related to SARS-CoV-2 transmission (p < 0.05). Our findings showed a relatively low SARS-CoV-2 infection from parturients to newborns, regardless of the severity of the maternal disease. Furthermore, these findings are an early assessment of COVID-19 cases in late pregnancy, which could indicate the need for intensive management of SARS-CoV-2 infection among parturients in Angola. Further studies are needed on the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 among pregnant women and neonates from Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cruz S. Sebastião
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Caxito, Angola; (C.S.S.); (J.N.d.V.)
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola; (E.S.); (J.M.)
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde (ISCISA), Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Paolo Parimbelli
- Maternidade Lucrécia Paim, Ministério da Saúde, Luanda, Angola; (P.P.); (M.M.)
| | - Manuela Mendes
- Maternidade Lucrécia Paim, Ministério da Saúde, Luanda, Angola; (P.P.); (M.M.)
| | - Euclides Sacomboio
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola; (E.S.); (J.M.)
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde (ISCISA), Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Joana Morais
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola; (E.S.); (J.M.)
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Miguel Brito
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Caxito, Angola; (C.S.S.); (J.N.d.V.)
- Health and Technology Research Center, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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10
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Sebastião CS, Galangue M, Gaston C, Van-Dunen R, Quivinja J, Lunbungululo E, Alfredo D, Sozinho A, Teixeira A, Manico E, Machado D, Mateus A, David Z, Paixão J, Neto Z, de Vasconcelos JN, Morais J. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and risk factors among healthy blood donors in Luanda, Angola. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:1131. [PMID: 34727874 PMCID: PMC8562364 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06814-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China and spread throughout the world due to its rapid transmission. The exposure rate in the healthy population is unknown, mainly in resource-limited countries. Herein, we estimated the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and risk factors among blood donors in Luanda, the capital city of Angola. METHODS This was a retrospective study conducted with 343 blood donors. Chi-square and logistic regression were calculated to predict the independent variable for SARS-CoV-2 infection and deemed significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 was 4.7%. Positivity rates varied to age groups (3.5-14.3%), gender (0-5%), area of residence (3.1-.6%), educational level (5.1-10.2%), occupation (4.4-7.7%), and the blood donor category (2.0-5.1%). Past and recent infections were detected in 3.2% and 1.5%, respectively. Blood donors under the age of 20 years (OR: 4.58, p = 0.241) and from non-urbanized areas (OR: 1.86, p = 0.293) presented a high risk related to infection. The infection was higher in blood group A and lower in blood group O. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection has increased from January 2020 (OR: 0.03, p = 0.001) to August 2020 (OR: 0.57, p = 0.426). CONCLUSIONS We provide an estimate of the exposure of healthy blood donors in Luanda. Also, we detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 in January 2020, indicating that the SARS-CoV-2 could have been imported during the first month of 2020. Further studies should be performed to assess the exposure rate in different groups from Angola.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cruz S Sebastião
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Caxito, Angola
- Instituto Superior de Ciências da Saúde (ISCISA), Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), Luanda, Angola
| | - Manuela Galangue
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
| | - Celestina Gaston
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
| | - Rui Van-Dunen
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
| | - Joltim Quivinja
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
| | | | | | - Alberto Sozinho
- Instituto Nacional de Sangue, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | | | - Eunice Manico
- Instituto Nacional de Sangue, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | - Deodete Machado
- Instituto Nacional de Sangue, Ministry of Health, Luanda, Angola
| | - António Mateus
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
| | - Zinga David
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
| | - Joana Paixão
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
| | - Zoraima Neto
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
| | - Jocelyne Neto de Vasconcelos
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Angola (CISA), Caxito, Angola
| | - Joana Morais
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação em Saúde (INIS), Luanda, Angola.
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Agostinho Neto (UAN), Luanda, Angola.
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Correction: Sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors related to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Luanda, Angola. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252254. [PMID: 34015031 PMCID: PMC8136692 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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