Dengue Virus Infection among Voluntary Blood Donors in Osogbo, Southwestern Nigeria

¹ Haematology and Blood Transfusion Department, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

² Medical Laboratory Science Department, Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.

³ Public Health Entomology and Parasitology Unit, Department of Biological Science, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.

⁴ Medical Laboratory Science Department, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

^*Corresponding Author

Muhibi M A

Haematology and Blood Transfusion Department

Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital

Osogbo, Osun State

Nigeria

Email: muhibudeen@yahoo.com

Abstract

Dengue virus is one of the causative agents of viral haemorrhagic fever, which is transmitted primarily through Aedes mosquitoes. Transmission of the virus through non-vector sources had been proven, although, it is the most common arthropod-borne viral infection in human. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Dengue Virus amongst voluntary blood donors in Osogbo, southwest Nigeria. Ninety one voluntary non-remunerated donors that satisfied donor suitability criteria in Nigeria; having been considered fit based on physical assessment, responses provided to Blood Donors’ questionnaire, and tested negative by both rapid diagnostic and ELISA techniques to HIV 1 & 2, HBV, HCV and syphilis were screened for anti-Dengue IgM antibody using Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA). It was observed that most of the donors (56.04%) fall within age group 28-37 years, while none of the participant was older than 47. In terms of gender distribution, men (86.81%) were in the majority. Marital profile showed that most of the participants were unmarried (72.53%); while literates account for 58.24%. The seroprevalence of IgM antibodies showed that only two (2.2%) participants were positive for Dengue virus. Result showed that there is low prevalence of Dengue virus among voluntary blood donors in Osogbo. Monitoring the trends in prevalence of transmissible infectious agents in blood donors will provide a mechanism to evaluate the safety of the blood supply. It is hereby recommended that surveillance be sustained on all emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that have potentials of being transmitted through blood transfusion, dengue virus inclusive.

Keywords: Dengue, transfusion transmissible infection, haemorrhagic fever, blood safety, ELISA.

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