Detection of west nile virus nucleic acid in egyptian blood donors by real time PCR

ABSTRACT

Transfusion-transmitted West Nile virus [WNV] was first reported in 2002 led to rapid development of investigational nucleic acid tests [NAT]. This study aimed to screen WNV by real time RT-PCR among apparently healthy Egyptian blood donors. A total of 284 volunteer blood donors [197 males and 87 females] were enrolled in this study. Blood samples [5ml] were collected in sterile vacutainer tubes containing EDTA under aseptic conditions. After centrifugation plasma were separated and collected into two tubes, one used for routine screening tests for donated blood. From the second tube, 200micro L plasma from 6 samples were pooled into minipools automatically and used for screening of WNV by real-time RT-PCR while the remaining two samples were tested individually. In positive reactive minipools to WNV, retesting individual samples were performed. Out of the 47 pools and 2 individual samples tested for WNV, 7 minipools were positive. These 7 minipools contain 42 individual samples and after retesting them, 7 [2.5%] samples were positive for WNV. Routine screening of blood donors revealed 7 positive samples for HBsAg. 11 positive samples for HCV Abs [3.9%], two samples [0.7] were positive for HCV RNA by PCR and 5 [1.7%] positive samples of syphilis tested by Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay [TPHA]. WNV can be transmitted through blood transfusion in Egypt and to overcome this problem screening of blood donors against WNV should be implemented in Egypt according to CDC recommendation