Community-based survey to assess seroprevalence of poliovirus antibodies in far-north Cameroon in 2020

Background: This study assessed seroprevalence of poliovirus antibodies in children from selected poliovirus high-risk areas of the Far North region of Cameroon which serves to monitor polio immunization program. Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional seroprevalence survey involving collection of dried blood specimens (DBS) among children aged 12–59 months (n = 401). Multi-stage cluster sampling using GIS was applied to select the study sample. Collected DBS were analysed with microneutralization assays for poliovirus neutralizing antibody levels. Results: The overall seroprevalence of types 1, 2 and 3 neutralizing antibodies were 86.8 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 83.1–89.8), 74.6 % (95 % CI: 70.1–78.6) and 79.3 % (95 % CI: 75.1–83.0), respectively. Median titers (log2 scale) for type 1, 2 and 3 were 7.17 (6.5–7.5), 5.17 (4.83–5.5), and 6.17 (5.5–6.5), respectively. There was an increasing trend in median titers and seroprevalence with age, statistically significant between the youngest and oldest age groups (p