Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and Treponema pallidum Infections among Blood Donors on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea

PLoS One. 2015 Oct 8;10(10):e0139947. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139947. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Background: Regular screening of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs), such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus (HBV and HCV, respectively), and Treponema pallidum, in blood donors is essential to guaranteeing clinical transfusion safety. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of four TTIs among blood donors on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea (EG).

Methods: A retrospective survey of blood donors from January 2011 to April 2013 was conducted to assess the presence of HIV, HBV, HCV and T. pallidum. The medical records were analyzed to verify the seroprevalence of these TTIs among blood donations stratified by gender, age and geographical region.

Results: Of the total 2937 consecutive blood donors, 1098 (37.39%) had a minimum of one TTI and 185 (6.29%) harbored co-infections. The general seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and T. pallidum were 7.83%, 10.01%, 3.71% and 21.51%, respectively. The most frequent TTI co-infections were HBV-T. pallidum 60 (2.04%) and HIV-T. pallidum 46 (1.57%). The seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and T. pallidum were highest among blood donors 38 to 47 years, 18 to 27 years and ≥ 48 years age, respectively (P<0.05). The seroprevalence of TTIs varied according to the population from which the blood was collected on Bioko Island.

Conclusions: Our results firstly provide a comprehensive overview of TTIs among blood donors on Bioko Island. Strict screening of blood donors and improved hematological examinations using standard operating procedures are recommended.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Donors
  • Equatorial Guinea / epidemiology
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Syphilis / epidemiology*
  • Treponema pallidum*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This work was partially supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (contract/grant number 201542195 to ML), the Medical Science Fund of Guangdong Province (contract/grant number A2013780 to ML), the Initial Project for Post-Graduates of Hubei University of Medicine (contract/grant number 2013QDJZR04 to JL) and the Medical Science Fund of Guangdong Province (contract/grant number B2015062 to D-DX). The funders had no role in the study design and data analysis, the decision to publish, or reparation of the manuscript.