Prevalence of the protective OAS1 rs10774671-G allele against severe COVID-19 in Moroccans: implications for a North African Neanderthal connection.

The clinical presentation of COVID-19 shows high variability among individuals, which is partly due to genetic factors. The OAS1/2/3 cluster has been found to be strongly associated with COVID-19 severity. We examined this locus in the Moroccan population for the occurrence of the critical variant rs10774671 and its respective haplotype blocks. The frequency of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cluster of OAS immunity genes in 157 unrelated individuals of Moroccan origin was determined using an in-house exome database. OAS1 exon 6 of 71 SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals with asymptomatic/mild disease and 74 with moderate/severe disease was sequenced by the Sanger method. The genotypic, allelic, and haplotype frequencies of three SNPs were compared between these two groups. Finally, males in our COVID-19 series were genotyped for the Berber-specific marker E-M81. The prevalence of the OAS1 rs10774671-G allele in present-day Moroccans was found to be 40.4%, which is similar to that found in Europeans. However, it was found equally in both the Neanderthal GGG haplotype and the African GAC haplotype, with a frequency of 20% each. These two haplotypes, and hence the rs10774671-G allele, were significantly associated with protection against severe COVID-19 (p = 0.034, p = 0.041, and p = 0.008, respectively). Surprisingly, in men with the Berber-specific uniparental markers, the African haplotype was absent, while the prevalence of the Neanderthal haplotype was similar to that in Europeans. The protective rs10774671-G allele of OAS1 was found only in the Neanderthal haplotype in Berbers, the indigenous people of North Africa, suggesting that this region may have served as a stepping-stone for the passage of hominids to other continents.

COVID-19 in Morocco's region: Observational study of prevalence in symptomatic adults using the PANBIOS® rapid antigen test September 2021.

Background: Rapid antigen tests have emerged to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential to reduce the spread of the disease. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 infection and test the sensitivity and specificity in Temara-Skhirat in symptomatic adults through PANBIOS® test. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in mid-September 2021. Two investigators conducted data collection from symptomatic adult patients. The diagnostic performance of the PANBIOS®, and the PCR was assessed to calculate sensitivity and the specificity. Results: Among 206 symptomatic participants, the mean age was 38 ± 12 years, and the majority were women (59%). In our population, 80% had benefited from the anti-COVID vaccine. The median duration of symptoms was 4 days; the most common symptoms were fatigue (62%), headache (52%), fever (48%), cough (34%), loss of smell (25%), loss of taste (24%), and sore throat (22%). Results revealed 23% of cases tested positive with PANBIOS® test versus 30% with the PCR test. The calculated medical decision between PCR versus PANBIOS® test showed high specificity of 95.7% and a sensitivity of 69.4%. There was concordance between the PANBIOS® test and the PCR. Conclusion: The prevalence tested remain high, and the sensitivity and specificity of the PANBIOS® versus PCR test are similar to other literatures and close to value described in WHO recommendations. PANBIOS® is a useful test for controlling the spread of COVID-19 allowing identification of active infection.

Prevalence and predictive determinants of adherence to vaccination against COVID-19 among mothers who gave birth in the last two years in Morocco.

Background and aim: Vaccination against COVID-19 was one of the most important resolute to stop the spread of the pandemic; however, its acceptance was controversial especially by pregnant and lactating women. This study aims to assess the prevalence of vaccination among participants as well as to explore the determinants of reluctance or adherence to vaccination among this population, and to investigate the intention towards vaccination among the unvaccinated. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among mothers (n = 458) residing in the prefecture of Skhirat-Temara in Morocco, and who have children aged between one month to 2 years, the survey was conducted on the basis of a semi-structured questionnaire. Result: The prevalence of vaccination among the participants was 61.8%, although they were all vaccinated after their delivery. Among the unvaccinated, 64% wanted to be vaccinated either because they believed the vaccines were useful or because they wanted to get the vaccine pass, while 36% absolutely refused to be vaccinated due to lack of sufficient information on the efficacy and safety of new vaccines against COVID-19. The age of the last child (p < 0.001) and no gestational diabetes during pregnancy (p = 0.016) were found to be positive predictors of vaccination adherence; however, the average or the high monthly income (p = 0.003) and the lack of medical coverage (p = 0.046) were predictive factors limiting adherence to vaccination. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that public health decision-makers need to increase awareness of the benefits of vaccination and to address the economic and social factors limiting access to COVID-19 vaccination.

Predictive factors of heart failure in acute coronary syndrome: Institutional cross-sectional study.

Background: Heart failure complicating acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a challenge because it is associated with a high risk of mortality at 1 year.Our objective is to highlight the factors frequently associated with heart failure following an ACS and thus deduce the predictive factors for the occurrence of heart failure. Methods: ACS patients who were managed between 01/01/2021 to 06/30/2021 at the authors' institution were included retrospectively in the analysis. Results: One hundred twenty-one patients (121) included. Eighty-seven were males (72%), and the mean age was 59.4 ± 8.8. Most patients were smokers (58.7%),40% were diabetic, and 40.5% were hypertensive. Dyslipidemia was found in 37.2% of cases. 75% of patients were admitted for STEMI, and 25% for NSTEMI. The majority of patients (67.5%) were admitted out of time. The anterior electrical territory was found as a factor in the occurrence of heart failure (OR = 5.47, 95% CI (2.16-15.26), P = 0.0005). Among the patients who presented a heart failure, 64% had an LVEF <40%, and only 3% with an LVEF >50% (P < 0.001). Also, 76% had a Wall Motion Index Score (WMSI) of 1.5 (P < 0.001). Angioplasty was the treatment of choice in 65%, aortocoronary bypass in 7% of cases, and medical treatment alone, associated or not with ischemia/viability tests in 28% of cases. Patients admitted out of time (>12 h) were found to be a factor in the occurrence of HF (OR = 3.31,95% CI (1.21-10,60), P = 0.02). The outcome was favorable in 93% of cases. We observed 9 cases of complications including 4 deaths from cardiogenic, septic, and hemorrhagic shock. Conclusions: This study allows us to identify patients at risk of developing heart failure and patients with a more reserved prognosis. Besides, our findings will allow our peers and colleagues to be able to detect early these factors and optimize adequate management to avoid heart failure.

Post-Validation Survey in Two Districts of Morocco after the Elimination of Trachoma as a Public Health Problem.

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness. In 2016, Morocco was validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. We evaluated two previously endemic districts in Morocco for trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF), trachomatous trichiasis (TT), and antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis, the causative agent of trachoma. Community-based cross-sectional surveys in the districts of Boumalene Dades and Agdez included 4,445 participants for whom both questionnaire and serology data were available; 58% were aged 1-9 years. Participants had eyes examined for TF and blood collected for analysis of antibodies to the C. trachomatis antigen Pgp3 by both a multiplex bead assay (MBA) and lateral flow assay (LFA). Seroconversion rates (SCR) per 100 people per year were used to estimate changes in the force of infection using Bayesian serocatalytic models. In Agdez, TF prevalence in 1-9-year-olds was 0.3%, seroprevalence ranged from 9.4% to 11.4%, and SCR estimates ranged from 2.4 to 3.0. In Boumalene Dades, TF prevalence in 1-9-year-olds was 0.07%, and modeling data from the different assays indicated a decrease in transmission between 20 and 24 years ago. The TF data support an absence of active trachoma in the two districts examined. However, seroprevalence and SCR in younger people were higher in Agdez than Boumalene Dades, showing that there can be differences in serology metrics in areas with similar TF prevalence. Data will be included in multicountry analyses to better understand potential thresholds for serological surveillance in trachoma.