Distribution of antibodies to Salmonella in the sera of blood donors in the south-western region of Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
There are currently no reports of a multicentre assessment of the presence of antibodies to Salmonella in donated blood in Nigeria.


METHODS
Blood specimens from blood donors presenting at six selected public blood collection centres in the south-western region of Nigeria were analysed for the presence of Salmonella antibodies.


RESULTS
Out of the 200 specimen analysed, 106 (53%) were found to be Widal-positive with a minimum titre of 160. Among the positive cases, reactivity was most common to S. typhi (D) antigens (48.6%). The most frequently recorded titre of reactive specimens (i.e., the modal titre) was 160, with 71 donors (35.5%) of the total sample population from the different centres reacting at this level. Thirty-one donors had elevated titres of = 320 and nine donors had a titre of 640. The percentages of Widal-positive cases among donors with A positive and O positive blood groups were 58.7% and 64.2%, respectively; the percentage of Widal-positive cases was lowest among B positive blood donors (26.7%). The p-value for these differences (p<0.05) shows that blood group has a statistically significant impact on Widal reaction in donors. CONCLUSION.: This study confirms that salmonellosis is endemic in Nigeria and that many of our blood donors may be Salmonella carriers. This study also revealed a positive association between blood groups and typhoid fever.
Adias
Teddy C
TC
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, 500001 Rivers State, Nigeria.
Jeremiah
Zaccheaus A
ZA
Ilesanmi
Ayo O
AO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012475:Salmonella / Q000276:immunology*; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000097:blood; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001789:Blood Group Antigens