ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Ethiopia is one of the top 10 countries in the world where 90% visceral leishmaniasis cases are reported. Metema-Humera lowlands are the most important foci in Ethiopia. Blood transfusion in visceral leishmaniasis endemic foci in Ethiopia does not consider screening of visceral leishmaniasis during blood donation. The aim of this study is therefore, was to assess asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infection and associated factors among blood donors attending at Metema district Blood Bank, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: A Health facility based cross-sectional study was conducted at Metema Blood Bank from February to March 2020. A total of 205 blood donors were eligible and participated in this study. Structured questionnaire were used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and perceived risk factors associated with asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis among blood donors. Blood donors were screened using both rK39 and direct agglutination tests based on the manufactures' instructions. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Chi-square test was used to assess associations of Leishmania donovani infection with predisposing factors. Associations were considered statstically significant on P-value < 0.05 at 95% confidence level. RESULTS: Of the total 205 participants, 32(15.6%) were positive for asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infection at least by one of the diagnostic tests used. Eight (3.9%) and 30(14.6%) of the participants` were positive by the rK39 and direct agglutination tests, respectively. Six (2.9%) donors were tested positive by both diagnostic tests. Family history of visceral leishmaniasis (X²=11.334, P = 0.003) and having neighbors with history of visceral leishmaniasis (X²=5.923, P = 0.015) were significantly associated with asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infection among blood donors. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of asymptomatic Leishmania donovani infection was 15.6%. Asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis was significantly associated with donors' family and neighbors' history of infection. Therefore, laboratory screening of blood donors for visceral leishmaniasis in endemic areas will be mandatory. Moreover, this study will give base line information for future study in the country.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Blood transfusion is an effective treatment for saving millions of lives even though transfusion- transmissible infections are the major problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the sero-prevalence and trend of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted form July 2014 to June 2018 at Bahir Dar district blood bank. Descriptive statistics was presented using percentages, medians and interquartile ranges. Logistic regression was used to explore risk factors associated with each transfusion transmissible infections. RESULT: From a total of 35,435 blood donors 2130 (6.0%) of them had serological evidence for at least one infection and 50 (0.14%) of them were confirmed as having multiple infections. The overall sero-prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis was 230 (6.0%) with 3.9%, 0.6%, 0.5% and 1.2% respectively. From those who had co-infection majority of them 22 (44.0%) were attributed to HBV-Syphilis co-infection and 1 (2.0%) study participant was co-infected with HBV-HIV- Syphilis infection. There was an increment in the overall prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infection;183 in 2014/2015 to 624 in 2017/2018. The sero-prevalence of HBV show a significant increment tend with respect to year of donation. On the other hand HCV and HIV sero-prevalence show an increasing trend from 2014 and decrease in 2018. The sero-prevalence of syphilis was 67 (1.3%) in 2015 and duplicate in 2016, 138 (1.5) but subsequently decrease to 110 (1.1%) in 2017 and in 2018 it was 114 (1.0%). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: His finding showed growing evidence in the burden of transfusion-transmissible infection in blood donors despite which requires advanced and vigilance screening of donated blood prior to transfusion. More over there should be strategies for monitoring the implementation of post donation counseling for recruitment and retention of safe regular donors.
