title: High seroprevalence of asymptomatic viral haemoparasites among prospective blood donors in Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of viral haemoparasites in prospective Nigerian blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ethical clearance was obtained and informed consent questionnaires were distributed to blood donors to obtain their demographical data. A total of 186 blood donors from LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo were tested for hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using rapid test kit and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest prevalence of blood transmitted infections was 182 (97.85%) while the prevalence of HIV, HAV, HBV and HCV were 6.45%, 97.85%, 14.52% and 3.23%, respectively. Highest seroprevalence for hepatitis A, B and C occurred among low risk occupation. There was no significant association between all the hepatitis viruses and demographic factors except occupation with P value of 0.002 7. Hepatitis A, B and C seropositive blood donors on average tend to have PCV within the normal reference range. Out of the 27 hepatitis B positive blood donors, 22 were donating blood for the first time while 5 were repeat donors. None of the hepatitis C seropositive donors have been exposed to blood or any form of its products and were all donating blood for the first time. However, the distribution of donor type for HAV is random.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HAV, HBV, HCV and HIV among prospective donors in Nigeria is alarming particularly HAV. These infections can be transmitted to recipients if proper screening is not carried out, hence they should be included as a routine test for blood donors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. Electronic address: olusogadave@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: David Olusoga
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Ogbolu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Oyebode Terry
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Alli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Itunu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Odeleye
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adeolu S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Oluremi
keywords: Blood donor; HIV; Hepatitis; Serology