ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the potential correlation between specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (TYK2, IFITM3, IFNAR2, and OAS3 variants) and the severity of COVID-19 in Moroccan patients. METHODS: A genetic analysis was conducted on 109 patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Morocco. Among these patients, 46% were hospitalized in the intensive care unit, while 59% were not hospitalized. Importantly, all patients lacked known risk factors associated with COVID-19 severity. Genotyping was performed to identify variations in TYK2 rs74956615, IFITM3 rs12252, IFNAR2 rs2236757, and OAS3 rs10735079. Statistical analysis was applied using codominant, dominant and recessive logistic regression models to assess correlations with COVID-19 severity. RESULTS: Our findings revealed no significant correlation between TYK2 rs74956615, IFITM3 rs12252, IFNAR2 rs2236757, and OAS3 rs10735079 with COVID-19 severity in Moroccan patients, as indicated in logistic regression models (p > .05). Interestingly, these results may offer insights into the mitigated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduced severity observed in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients in Morocco. Age, however, exhibited a significant correlation with severity (p < .001), with a trend towards increased likelihood of ICU admission with advancing age. Additionally, In the severe group, a higher proportion of patients were females (54%), indicating a statistically significant correlation with disease severity (p = .04). Nevertheless, female ICU patients aged above 60 years accounted for 37%, compared to 17% for males. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the absence of a genetic association between the selected polymorphisms and COVID-19 severity in Moroccan patients. Advanced age emerges as the primary factor influencing the severity of COVID-19 patients without comorbidities. We recommend setting the threshold for advanced age at 60 years as a risk factor for severe forms of COVID-19.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Intensive Care Units , Membrane Proteins , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , RNA-Binding Proteins , Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta , Severity of Illness Index , TYK2 Kinase , Humans , Female , Male , COVID-19/genetics , COVID-19/epidemiology , Morocco/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Adult , RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , TYK2 Kinase/genetics , Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta/genetics , Aged , 2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase/genetics , SARS-CoV-2/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to DiseaseABSTRACT
A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted in the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër region of Morocco in 2007 among 267 barbers and 529 clients, all men with no history of hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination. The overall prevalence of HBV seropositivity was 28.1% in barbers and 25.1% in clients; 1.9% and 1.7% respectively had active HBV (HBsAg positive). Risk factors for HBV included older age, low educational level, urban living, being married, history of transfusion, lack of current heterosexual relationship and liver-associated symptoms. Observations showed that HBV seropositivity was lower in clean barbershops and those using alum as an antispetic. The rate of PCR-confirmed hepatitis C virus (HCV) was only 1.1% and 1.3% in barbers and clients respectively, and was associated with increased age, drug use, history of surgery and symptoms of liver disease. Less than 1% of barbers were aware of HBV or HCV as causative agents of liver disease or jaundice.
Subject(s)
Barbering , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hepatitis B/prevention & control , Hepatitis C/prevention & control , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Morocco/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic StudiesABSTRACT
A cross-sectional seroepidemiological study was conducted in the Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer region of Morocco in 2007 among 267 barbers and 529 clients, all men with no history of hepatitis B [HBV] vaccination. The overall prevalence of HBV seropositivity was 28.1% in barbers and 25.1% in clients; 1.9% and 1.7% respectively had active HBV [HBsAg positive]. Risk factors for HBV included older age, low educational level, urban living, being married, history of transfusion, lack of current heterosexual relationship and liver-associated symptoms. Observations showed that HBV seropositivity was lower in clean barbershops and those using alum as an antispetic. The rate of PCR-confirmed hepatitis C virus [HCV] was only 1.1% and 1.3% in barbers and clients respectively, and was associated with increased age, drug use, history of surgery and symptoms of liver disease. Less than 1% of barbers were aware of HBV or HCV as causative agents of liver disease or jaundice
Subject(s)
Hepatitis C , Prevalence , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Barbering , Cross-Sectional Studies , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Hepatitis BABSTRACT
Toxoplasma gondii is an ubiquitous parasite with a prevalence variable from country to country. In Morocco very few studies were devoted to this prevalence. To fill this gap we were interested to study the epidemiology of this parasite and to know the level of carriage by the different vectors which are the sources of contamination in humans. The study was done by directly detecting the cysts in the cerebral tissue of the 50 sheep killed and destined for consumption. The results of this preliminary study show that 30% of the cases carry the cysts of T. gondii. To confirm this result and verify the virulence, cerebral specimens were inoculated into mice. These findings are encouraging to complete this study with serological tests and to look for the parasite in cows and goats of this region.
