Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus in the private blood banking sector in Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is an agent of Transfusion Transmissible Infection (TTI) which serves as a threat to blood safety and sufficiency of blood and blood products supply.Objectives: This study aimed at determining the distribution patterns of HCV among potential blood donors in a private Blood Bank in Osogbo, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Over a period of 6 months, 290 consenting prospective blood donors were recruited for this study by convenient sampling technique. Pre-test counseling was done, before blood specimen collection and laboratory serological analysis was carried out, using third generation Enzyme Immunoassay Technique.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 35.99 ±10.94 years. A total of 6 participants (2.07%) tested positive for anti-HCV. In this study, HCV prevalence has no association with age and blood type, but it does with the donor type, where the prevalence is higher among commercial blood donors.Conclusion: The rates were lower than the previous studies in Nigeria perhaps this is due to the positive effect of public awareness on transfusion transmissible infections and the fact that majority of the donors were regular donors. Blood transfusion services should be further strengthened by establishment of blood transfusion committees at State level, to regulate and monitor the practice, especially in the private sector, with a view to ensure that stringent criteria are adhered to in blood donors’ selection.Keywords: Blood Safety, Hepatitis C Virus, Serology and Private sector

High prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus(hbv) infection among rural and urban blood donors in south western Nigeria

No Abstract.Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 14 (1) 2007: pp.20-2

Prevalence of filariasis among prospective blood donors at Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria

It has been stated that high prevalence of microfilaria in Africa has compounded the problem of blood shortage in our blood banks as prospective blood donors positive for microfilaria are automatically excluded from donation. This fact, together with changing population demographics, increased travels with respect to rural urban migration and the problems of commercial blood donors has made it necessary to determine the prevalence of filarial infection among blood donors in our institution. A total of 491 subjects aged 18 years and above and voluntarily consenting to donate blood at the blood bank of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria between April and June 2005 were screened for microfilaria. Five milliliters of blood was collected from each subject. The modified thick smear technique described by Denham, and Giemsa and Haematoxylin stains were used to detect microfilaria in the blood. Of the 491 prospective blood donors (402 males, 89 females, M:F ratio 4.5:1, age range 18-62 years) screened, the age group 21-30 years and 31-40 years constituted 39.3% and 28.3% respectively. Five (1.01%) were positive for microfilaria; 3 (60%) had Mansonella perstans, 1 (20%) had Onchocerca volvulus while 1 (20%) had Loa loa. All the 5 donors were male aged 23, 25, 31, 50 and 55 years and were asymptomatic. The average parasite density of the donors was 1.4 microfilaria/20 µL of blood. Because of the possibility of allergic reactions from transfused microfilariae, routine screening for microfilariae should be incorporated into transfusion policy in our hospitals. However, in view of the generally low apathy to voluntary blood donation in Nigeria, it may not be justified to exclude potential donor positive for microfilaria. Instituting prompt antifilarial treatment for patients receiving such blood may be a credible alternative Keywords: Prevalence, Filariasis, Blood donors, Osogbo Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5 (2) 2006: 71-7

Haemorheological factors in diabetes mellitus patients in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria

A study on haemorheological factors in diabetes mellitus patients was carried out. Fifty blood samples were analyzed, comprising of thirty (30) diagnosed diabetes mellitus patients attending chemical pathology Clinic in OAUTH Ile-Ife and twenty (20) from apparently health individuals. The haemorheological parameters determined in this study were Packed cell volume (PCV); Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Plasma Fibrinogen Concentration (PFC), whole blood viscosity (WBV), Plasma Viscosity (PV), and plasma glucose. Microhaematocrit, the Westergren's and Ingram's (1961) methods were used respectively for analysis, while technique of Reid and Ugwu (1987) was used for whole blood and plasma viscosity. Glucose-oxidase method was used for plasma glucose estimation. The mean ± S.E.M values obtained for the patients are: PCV 39%, ESR 35mm Westergren in 1 hour, PFC 55.50g/m., WBV 6.12, PV 1.97 and glucose 7.39mmol/L while those of controls are: PCV 42.45%, ESR 6.80, PFC 31.60g/ml, WBV 3.84, PV 1.56 and glucose 3.94mmol/L. All the parameters were statistically significant (