title: Seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B and C viruses and syphilis among blood donors in Koudougou (Burkina Faso) in 2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The high prevalence of numerous transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa affects the safety of blood for recipients. This study was undertaken with the aim of determining the seroprevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV, syphilis and socio-demographic risk factors associated with blood donation in a new regional blood transfusion centre in Burkina Faso.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sera samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to HCV, HIV types 1 and 2 and to Treponema pallidum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and Rapid Plasma Reagin test (RPR) respectively. All the reactive samples for HIV, HBsAg, and HCV were confirmed using a second enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Antibodies to Treponema pallidum were confirmed with a Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test (TPHA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the total of 4,520 blood donors in 2009, 1,348 (29.82%) were infected with at least one pathogen and 149 (3.30%) had serological evidence of multiple infections. The overall seroprevalence rate of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis was 2.21%, 14.96%, 8.69% and 3.96%, respectively. Among blood donors with multiples infections, the most common dual or triple combinations were HBsAg-HCV (1.39%), HBsAg-syphilis (0.66%) and HBsAg-HCV-syphilis (0.11%). The highest prevalences of HBsAg and HIV were found among blood donors from rural areas and in the age groups of 20-29 years and >40 years old, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBV and HCV remain the greatest threats to blood safety in Burkina Faso. Strict selection and retention of voluntary, non-remunerated low-risk blood donors are recommended to improve blood safety in the regional blood transfusion centre of Koudougou.
authors.affiliation: National Blood Transfusion Centre (CNTS), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
authors.forename: Marius Bolni
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Nagalo
authors.forename: Mahamoudou
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanou
authors.forename: Cyrille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bisseye
authors.forename: Marilène Inès
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Kaboré
authors.forename: Yacouba K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Nebie
authors.forename: Kisito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kienou
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiba
authors.forename: Honorine
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dahourou
authors.forename: Siaka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ouattara
authors.forename: Jean Didier
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Zongo
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simporé
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult