Hepatitis E is a common infection caused by the Hepatitis E virus (HEV), a primarily enteric virus. HEV disease is mainly spread via stool contamination of water and food supplies. The virus has recently been identifi...Hepatitis E is a common infection caused by the Hepatitis E virus (HEV), a primarily enteric virus. HEV disease is mainly spread via stool contamination of water and food supplies. The virus has recently been identified as a global threat to blood safety. The seroprevalence of HEV among blood donors in Kenya remains unknown. This study was carried out as a pilot study to determine the seroprevalence of the virus among blood donors at Nairobi Blood Transfusion Center during the period from September 2018 to January 2019. A total of three hundred and fifty eight (n = 358) plasma samples were used in this study. The plasma was tested for HEV IgM and IgG antibody using a qualitative membrane-based immunoassay (Biopanda reagents Belfast UK). Demographic characteristics of the blood donors were also collected. The age of the blood donors ranged from 16 to 61 years with a mean age of 29 years (±14). Of the study subjects, 36% (n = 130) were females while 64% (n = 228) were males. Overall, 10.6% (38) and 7.8% (28) of the samples were HEV IgG and IgM seropositive respectively. Anti-HEV was distributed among all age groups;however donors aged 20 - 40 years had the highest prevalence. This study shows a relatively high prevalence of anti-HEV among healthy blood donors in Nairobi, Kenya. Further studies would be needed in other population groups to assess the potential benefit of incorporating HEV screening of blood products to the current blood donor selection criteria. Moreover, further studies to determine the circulating genotypes of HEV among this group are required for epidemiological reasons.展开更多
<strong>Background:</strong> The prevalence of transfusion associated hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection differs across different population geographically. Ascertaining the seroprevalence of HBV infection ...<strong>Background:</strong> The prevalence of transfusion associated hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection differs across different population geographically. Ascertaining the seroprevalence of HBV infection is vital to informing the way of precautionary and control strategies. This study sought to establish the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBVsAg) among blood donors in Yelewonyan Memorial Hospital Lofa, Liberia. <strong>Methods:</strong> This was a retrospective study which involved reviewing of blood donation records for the year 2020 at Telewonyan Memorial Hospital in Lofa County. The data obtained from the records were analyzed. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 12 for windows.<strong> Results: </strong>A total of 584 voluntary blood donors were screened for donation in 2020. Out of 584, 554 (95.9%) were males while the rest were females. Prevalence of 3.3% was observed among blood donors in Telewonyan Memorial Hospital. There is a significant difference between gender and age with HBV seropositivity among blood donors. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The findings of this study suggest that the study site is of low endemicity with HBV infection. Usually, males are more probably to be HBVsAg seropositive than their female’s counterpart. Planning more extensive study and educational programs would help minimize the spread of HBV infection among the general population.展开更多
文摘Hepatitis E is a common infection caused by the Hepatitis E virus (HEV), a primarily enteric virus. HEV disease is mainly spread via stool contamination of water and food supplies. The virus has recently been identified as a global threat to blood safety. The seroprevalence of HEV among blood donors in Kenya remains unknown. This study was carried out as a pilot study to determine the seroprevalence of the virus among blood donors at Nairobi Blood Transfusion Center during the period from September 2018 to January 2019. A total of three hundred and fifty eight (n = 358) plasma samples were used in this study. The plasma was tested for HEV IgM and IgG antibody using a qualitative membrane-based immunoassay (Biopanda reagents Belfast UK). Demographic characteristics of the blood donors were also collected. The age of the blood donors ranged from 16 to 61 years with a mean age of 29 years (±14). Of the study subjects, 36% (n = 130) were females while 64% (n = 228) were males. Overall, 10.6% (38) and 7.8% (28) of the samples were HEV IgG and IgM seropositive respectively. Anti-HEV was distributed among all age groups;however donors aged 20 - 40 years had the highest prevalence. This study shows a relatively high prevalence of anti-HEV among healthy blood donors in Nairobi, Kenya. Further studies would be needed in other population groups to assess the potential benefit of incorporating HEV screening of blood products to the current blood donor selection criteria. Moreover, further studies to determine the circulating genotypes of HEV among this group are required for epidemiological reasons.
文摘<strong>Background:</strong> The prevalence of transfusion associated hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection differs across different population geographically. Ascertaining the seroprevalence of HBV infection is vital to informing the way of precautionary and control strategies. This study sought to establish the seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBVsAg) among blood donors in Yelewonyan Memorial Hospital Lofa, Liberia. <strong>Methods:</strong> This was a retrospective study which involved reviewing of blood donation records for the year 2020 at Telewonyan Memorial Hospital in Lofa County. The data obtained from the records were analyzed. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 12 for windows.<strong> Results: </strong>A total of 584 voluntary blood donors were screened for donation in 2020. Out of 584, 554 (95.9%) were males while the rest were females. Prevalence of 3.3% was observed among blood donors in Telewonyan Memorial Hospital. There is a significant difference between gender and age with HBV seropositivity among blood donors. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> The findings of this study suggest that the study site is of low endemicity with HBV infection. Usually, males are more probably to be HBVsAg seropositive than their female’s counterpart. Planning more extensive study and educational programs would help minimize the spread of HBV infection among the general population.
