AEGiS-14IAC: Prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections in Ghana.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections in Ghana.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11747)

Ampofo WK, Nii-Trebi N, Ansah J, Abe K, Naito H, Aidoo S, Nuvor V, Brandful J, Yamamoto N, Ofori-Adjei D, Ishikawa K
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1/2), hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV), human T-lymphotrophic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) and Treponema pallidum (TP) are transmissible through blood transfusions. In Gana, the current blood transfusion scheme involves screening of blood for HBV and HIV only. Serological markers of blood borne infections were therefore investigated among healthy Ghanaian blood donors.

METHODS: After routine pre-screening for HBV surface antigen by a latex agglutination assay, sera from 808 blood donors aged 17 to 57 years were collected in Accra between July and September 1999. Particle agglutination (PA) assays to detect antibodies to HIV-1/2, HCV, HTLV-1 and TP were performed. To exclude serological cross-reactivity of HCV with other flaviviruses, anti-HCV seropositives were further subjected to HCV-SPOT (a recombinant protein membrane assay), SERODIA HCV PA at a higher serum dilution, a third-generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA 3) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for HCV.

RESULTS: After pre-screening of the healthy individuals (3,131) to eliminate the HBV seropositives (15%), antibody seroprevalences of 3.8%, 0.7%, 8.4% and 13.5% respectively for HIV-1/2, HTLV-1, HCV and TP were found amongst the 808 blood donors. There were 21 cases of dual infection, comprising mainly of 8 HIV/TP and 6 HCV/TP seropositives. There was one triple infection with HIV, TP and HCV. HCV antibody seroprevalence was however, confirmed as 0.7% after supplementary testing. .

CONCLUSION: This study indicates the current risk potential in Ghana, of these pathogens through blood transfusion and illustrates the importance of blood screening before transfusion. There is a need for further investigation into HCV infection in Ghana.

Keywords: AEGIS, Prevalence, Blood Donors, HIV Infections, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis B, HIV-1, Hepatitis C Antibodies, Blood Transfusion, HIV, HIV-2, Hepatitis B Virus, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Human T-lymphotropic virus 1, Treponema pallidum, Hepatitis B Surface Antigens, Ghana, Human, epidemiology, immunology

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F11747