Author(s)

Sanaa Hammi^1*, Myriem Bourkia¹, Adil Najdi¹, Rajae Chahboune¹, Karima Rissoul¹, Jamal Eddine Bourkadi², Jouda Benamor², Fatema El Bouzouiki¹, Soumiya El Bachiri¹, Mohammed Moumkin¹, Rachid Ismaili¹, Nadira Mourabait³, Ouafae Kaissi⁴, Asmae Zerrouki², Adil Grourinda¹, Fadila Bousgheiri¹, Hassana Belafki¹, Mhamed Harif¹, Mohamed Ahalat¹

¹Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Tangier FMPT, Abd Elmalek Essadi University (AEU), Tangier, Morocco.
²Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Mouhamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
³Faculty of Science and Technology of Al Hoceima, Abd Elmalek Essadi University (AEU), Tangier, Morocco.
⁴Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier, Abd Elmalek Essadi University (AEU), Tangier, Morocco.

Introduction: According to the literature consulted to date, there is epidemiological heterogeneity of Covid-19 between countries depending on their vaccination policy, in particular BCG vaccination. These findings have led to several hypotheses, including the protective role of immunity induced by the BCG tuberculosis vaccine against Covid-19 infection. The immunity induced by the BCG vaccine significantly increases the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, in particular IL-1B, which has been shown to play an essential role in antiviral immunity. This cross-immunity, although not specific, if highlighted, is a real providence that must be taken advantage of in the face of this pandemic. The main objective of this study is to rule out or confirm that anti-tuberculosis immunity protects against SARS-COV-2 in our context. Material and Methods: Two groups will be compared: cases infected with the virus and controls who have never been infected with the virus. Both case and control groups will undergo a tuberculin skin test: the intra dermal tuberculin reaction (IDR). Results: We found that our control group had a high IDR immunity value, with an IDR tuberculin positive percentage of 67.2%. This suggests that immunity to IDR is a protective factor against coronavirus disease. Conclusion: The hypothesis of nonspecific anti-tuberculosis protection deserves further verification studies; it would have large positive repercussions for developing countries.

BCG, Nonspecific Anti-Tuberculosis Immunity, Covid-19

Hammi, S. , Bourkia, M. , Najdi, A. , Chahboune, R. , Rissoul, K. , Bourkadi, J. , Benamor, J. , El Bouzouiki, F. , El Bachiri, S. , Moumkin, M. , Ismaili, R. , Mourabait, N. , Kaissi, O. , Zerrouki, A. , Grourinda, A. , Bousgheiri, F. , Belafki, H. , Harif, M. and Ahalat, M. (2022) SARS-COV-2 Infection and Anti-Tuberculosis Immunity: Temporal Association or Real Protective Role?. Advances in Infectious Diseases, 12, 656-667. doi: 10.4236/aid.2022.124046.