Transfusion Transmissible Parasitic Infection Among Blood Donors in Ibadan,south West Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, the available reports on transfusion-transmissible infections amongblood donors are mostly prevalent studies on bacterial and viral pathogens that can be acquired by blood recipients through blood transfusion.There is paucity of dataon transfusion-transmissible parasitic infections that can cause post-transfusion illness,especially in immuno compromised and transfusion-dependent patients. This study was designed to bridge the gap by screening for Plasmodiumfalciparum and Toxoplasmagondi iwhich can be transmitted by blood transfusion and determine the effect of storageduration at 4°C on parasitic infection.OBJECTIVESTo determine the prevalence of P. falciparumand T.gondii, identify sociodemographic factors associated with toxoplasmosis, and employ serology and microscopy methods to screen blood donors for P. falciparumand T.gondii, at the Blood Bank Transfusion Service Centre, South-west Nigeria.METHODOLOGY Cross-sequential study in Oyo state National Blood Transfusion Servicecentre. Demographic data and clinical history were obtained using a pro-formal questionnaire. Donors blood samples were tested for P. falciparum using both malaria Rapid diagnostic test (MRDT) kit and Giemsa stained microscopy,on initial day, 3days, 7daysand 21daysafter storage at 4°C.The remaining samples serum were tested for T.gondii infection using IgG and IgM ELISAtest kits. 2RESULTS A total of 248 donated blood samples were tested for P. falciparumon initial day also, on day 3, 7, and21after storage period. Overall prevalence ofP. falciparumon initial day was 16.5%and 8.5% using Malaria P. falciparum Rapid Diagnostic Testand Giemsamicroscopy respectively.While the storage duration of 3, 7, and 21 days was associated with significantly lower in P.falciparum prevalence of 8.1%,7.3%, and 5.7%, respectively(p< 0.001).The seroprevalence of anti-T. gondiiIgG and IgM was 19.8%and42.7%respectively.Therewas a significant difference in anti-T. gondiisero prevalence in vegetarian and non-vegetarian(20%vs47%;p<0.002). CONCLUSIONThis studyshowed thatP.falciparum and T.gondiiare prevalent among blood donors in the southwest, Nigeria.Storage of donor’s blood can significantly reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted P.falciparum malaria.The diet and age of blood donors are major risk factors for T.gondii infection.This canbe attributed to the poor sanitary conditions in the study area under study