{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:27:50Z","timestamp":1760146070034,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":20,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,9]],"date-time":"2024-10-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1728432000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"WHO (Unity Studies)"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Viruses"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Seroconversion surveys of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies provide accurate estimates of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infections. This nationwide population-based cross-sectional serosurvey aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among residents in Gabon and compare the estimated cumulative number of COVID-19 cases with the officially registered number of laboratory-confirmed cases up to December 2021. Households in each province were randomly selected. Twenty-eight localities, including sixteen urban and twelve rural, were randomly selected for the study. Whole blood samples were collected in dry tubes from all study participants nationwide within 15 days. Serum samples were used to measure SARS-CoV-2-specific ELISA titers. Overall, data from 1672 households were analyzed. Out of the 3659 participants, 3175 were found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, resulting in a crude seroprevalence of 86.77%. Stratification of study participants by age group showed the highest seroprevalences in the 20\u201329 and 40\u201349 age groups with 91.78% (95% CI: 89.5\u201393.6) and 91.42% (95% CI: 88.7\u201393.5), respectively. Nyanga province had the lowest prevalence (72.8%), and Estuaire and Ogoou\u00e9-Lolo provinces had the highest prevalence (90 and 92%). Our results suggest a high transmission rate in the Gabonese population 21 months after the first SARS-CoV-2 case in the country. This high seroprevalence estimate could indicate that the population may not have adequately implemented or appropriately adhered to the applied infection control measures.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/v16101582","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,9]],"date-time":"2024-10-09T06:30:03Z","timestamp":1728455403000},"page":"1582","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Seroprevalence in Gabon: Findings from a Nationwide Household Serosurvey in a Sub-Saharan Africa Country"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2714-1781","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Samira","family":"Zoa-Assoumou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Bact\u00e9riologie-Virologie, Universit\u00e9 des Sciences de la Sant\u00e9 (USS), Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"},{"name":"Laboratoire Professeur Daniel Gahouma (LPDG), Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Paulin","family":"Essone-Ndong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre de Recherches M\u00e9dicales de Lambar\u00e9n\u00e9 (CERMEL), Lambar\u00e9n\u00e9 BP 118, Gabon"},{"name":"Laboratoire Nationale de Sant\u00e9 Publique (LNSP), Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rafiou","family":"Adamou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre de Recherches M\u00e9dicales de Lambar\u00e9n\u00e9 (CERMEL), Lambar\u00e9n\u00e9 BP 118, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Sandrine Lydie","family":"Oyegue-Liabagui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit\u00e9 d\u2019Evolution, Epid\u00e9miologie et R\u00e9sistance Parasitaire, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches M\u00e9dicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, Gabon"},{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Biologie, Facult\u00e9 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Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Herve","family":"Mboyis-Kandem","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Bact\u00e9riologie-Virologie, Universit\u00e9 des Sciences de la Sant\u00e9 (USS), Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marien Juliet Verraldy","family":"Magossou Mbadinga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit\u00e9 de Recherche et Diagnostics Sp\u00e9cialis\u00e9, Service Laboratoire, CHU-M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Angelique","family":"Ndjoyi-Mbiguino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Bact\u00e9riologie-Virologie, Universit\u00e9 des Sciences de la Sant\u00e9 (USS), Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Armel Brice","family":"Amalet Akagha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Organisation Mondiale de la Sant\u00e9, Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Krystina Mengue Me","family":"Ngou-Milama","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Organisation Mondiale de la Sant\u00e9, Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Magaran Monzon","family":"Bagayoko","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Organisation Mondiale de la Sant\u00e9, Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Inoua","family":"Aboubacar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Organisation Mondiale de la Sant\u00e9, Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9417-1358","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jean-Bernard","family":"Lekana-Douki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit\u00e9 d\u2019Evolution, Epid\u00e9miologie et R\u00e9sistance Parasitaire, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches M\u00e9dicales de Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville BP 769, Gabon"},{"name":"D\u00e9partement de Parasitologie-Mycologie M\u00e9decine Tropicale, Facult\u00e9 de M\u00e9decine, Universit\u00e9 des Sciences de la Sant\u00e9 (USS), Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joel Fleury","family":"Djoba Siawaya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Unit\u00e9 de Recherche et Diagnostics Sp\u00e9cialis\u00e9, Service Laboratoire, CHU-M\u00e8re-Enfant Fondation Jeanne Ebori, Libreville BP 4009, Gabon"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ayola 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