Trend in prevalence of syphilis among voluntary blood donors in Xi'an, China from 2006 to 2010

Int J Infect Dis. 2014 Feb:19:98-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2013.10.013. Epub 2013 Nov 28.

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of syphilis among blood donors in the Xi'an region of China. All blood donors were unremunerated volunteers recruited from 2006 to 2010. Anti-Treponema pallidum and anti-HIV serology responses were determined using ELISA kits. Among 159 902 voluntary blood donors tested, a total of 575 syphilis (0.36%) and 55 HIV (0.03%) infections were identified. While an increasing trend was shown for the prevalence of both syphilis and HIV over the 5-year period, there was no statistical correlation between the two infections. Our results indicate that syphilis and HIV infections are increasing risk factors for the spread of blood-borne infections. Further investigations and improvements in blood collection and testing procedures are needed to help ensure the safety of donated blood in China.

Keywords: HIV; Syphilis; Voluntary blood donors.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Blood Donors
  • Blood Transfusion
  • China / epidemiology
  • Female
  • HIV Antibodies / blood
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV-1 / immunology*
  • HIV-2 / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Syphilis / epidemiology*
  • Treponema pallidum / immunology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • HIV Antibodies