Seroprevalence Rates of Hepatitis C Virus (Hcv) Antibody And Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen (Hbsag) in Blood Donors in A Southwestern Nigerian City

• Published in: Journal of immunoassay & immunochemistry Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 91 - 99
• Main Authors: Motayo, Babatunde O., Akpa, Onoja M., Ezeani, Isreal, Faneye, Adedayo O., Udo, Usen A., Onoja, Bernard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02.01.2015
• Subjects: abeokuta; blood donors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; HBsAg; HCV; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - immunology; Hepatitis C Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis C Antibodies - immunology; Humans; Male; Nigeria - epidemiology; Prospective Studies; seoprevailence; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Nigeria; blood donors; HBsAg; HCV; abeokuta; seoprevailence
• ISSN: 1532-1819; 1532-4230
• DOI: 10.1080/15321819.2014.899256

Hepatitis B and C have been identified as major causes of Transfusion transmitted infections, in Nigeria. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in prospective blood donors in Abeokuta, Nigeria. 305 blood donors were screened for the presence of Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV using a rapid immunochromatographic kit (DiaSpot®). Demographic information was also collected. Males constituted 96.4%, singles were the majority with 65%. Prevalence of HBsAg was 9.8%, HCV 1.3%, and dual positivity 0.3%. Prevalence of HBsAg and HCV among males was 10.2% and 1.4%, while females recorded 0.0% for HCV and HBsAg. Dual positivity was recorded in a male (0.33%). Analysis of the study variables revealed that only educational status was statistically associated with positivity of HBsAg , HCV prevalence was highest in the illiterate group it was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). We report the prevalence rates of anti-HCV Ab and HBsAg in blood donors from Ogun State, Nigeria. Our results reveals higher rate of HBsAg and evidence of co-infection with both viruses, illiteracy was the only variable associated with HBV infection. We advocate for the inclusion of anti-HBc or HBeAg in donor screening in our environment.