Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus and The Rate of Co-infection with other Viruses in Blood Donors in Oyo State, Nigeria: A Pilot Study
Date
2022
Authors
Ogbenna, A.A
Abiodun, I.S
Kalejaiye, O.O
Chukwujekwu, A.C
Oyedele, O.A
Ohanete, D.O
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nigerian Hospital Practice
Abstract
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) infection is a major public health challenge in developing
countries where it has caused large waterborne epidemics. However, the risk of transfusiontransmitted
HEV through contaminated blood and blood products remains unknown.This
cross-sectional study aimed at determining the seroprevalence of HEV among 186 blood
donors who visited the University College Hospital blood bank, Ibadan in Nigeria, between
January and June, 2018.Five ml of venous blood was drawn from each subject into plain
sample bottles. The sera were analyzed for HEV, HCV, HBsAg, HIV and VDRL via ELISA
techniques. Our findings showed HEV (4.3%) to be the most prevalent transfusiontransmissible
infections (TTIs), followed by HIV (3.2%), HBV (3.2%), HCV (2.7%) and
syphilis (1.1%). Prevalence rate of HEV/HIV co-infection recorded was 0.54%, HBsAg/HCV
co-infection was 0.58% while HBsAg/HIV co-infection was 1.08 %. Also, statistical
relationship was observed between HEV and increasing age (P = 0.038). Among the
seropositive donors 62.5% reported to have donated blood in the past. In conclusion, the study
showed a high seroprevalence rate of HEV among the donors; higher than the other routinely
screened viral markers. Blood donors above age 30, which is the age bracket of most donors,
have a higher probability of being seropositive. Thus posing significant health risks to blood
transfusion recipients. Hence, it is recommended that HEV be routinely screened for along
with other viral TTIs.
Description
Scholarly article
Keywords
Seroprevalence, , blood donors, , blood transfusion, , co-infection, , hepatitis E virus, , Nigeria , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE
Citation
Ogbenna, A. A., Abiodun, I. S., Kalejaiye, O. O., Chukwujekwu, A. C., Oyedele, O. A. and Ohanete, D. O. (2022). Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus and the Rate of Co-infection with other Viruses in Blood Donors in Oyo State, Nigeria: A Pilot Study, Nigerian Hospital Practice, 29(1-2), 3-10.