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

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).

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.

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.

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.

Below:  The geographic location of research population.

Malabo city was divided into eight regions including the old city center (A), the presidential office and residential area (B), the public residential area from previous planning (C), the modern residential area with a low population density (D), the modern residential area with a high population density (E), the un-planned residential area with a different population density (F) and the un-planned residential area with a high population density (G). The rural area included Luba, Moka, Riaba and Baney on Bioko Island.

Below:  The distribution of the TTI seroprevalence rates among the blood donors

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By: Xie DD1, Li J2, Chen JT3, Eyi UM4, Matesa RA4, Obono MM4, Ehapo CS4, Yang LY5, Yang H5, Yang HT5, Lin M5.

• 1Laboratory Medical Center, The People's Hospital of Jiangmen, Jiangmen; The Chinese Medical Aid Team to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
• 2Department of Infectious Diseases, Renmin Hospital; Department of Parasitology, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
• 3Laboratory Medical Center, The People's Hospital of Jiangmen, Jiangmen; The Chinese Medical Aid Team to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China; Laboratory Medical Center, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital, Guangdong, Huizhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
• 4Central Blood Transfusion Service; Medical Laboratory, Malabo Regional Hospital, Malabo, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
• 5Central Laboratory, Chaozhou Central Hospital, Southern Medical University, Chaozhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.  

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