Malarial Plasmodium Falciparum with Hepatitis B and C Virus Infections among Blood Donors in Ife Central Local Government Area, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Authors: Olaniran O , Olusi TA , Dada EO , Olaniran OO and Adegoke DA

DOI: 10.23880/aabsc-16000233

Volume 7, Issue 2

Abstract

Malaria and Viral Hepatitis are serious global public health challenge that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study investigated the prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum and Hepatitis B and C viruses among blood donors in Ife Central, Osun State, Nigeria. A total of 400 blood samples were collected from participants and analyzed for malaria parasites, Hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg), and anti-HCV antibodies. Five (5) ml of venous blood was obtained from each of the participants into EDTA bottles and labeled accordingly. Thick and thin blood films were made on slides, dried for five minutes at ambient temperature (370C) then stained with Giemsa’s stain. The stained slides were examined microscopically for the presence, species identification and densities of malaria parasites. Haematological characterization was also conducted on the blood samples of the donors. Sera were separated from the remaining aliquots of the blood and screened for hepatitis-B surface antigens (HBsAg) and Hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV). The overall prevalence of malaria parasite infection in this study was low with an average parasite density of 883 parasites per microliter of blood. The overall prevalence of Hepatitis infection was 9.5%, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was 3.5%, and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was 5.8%. A small percentage (0.3%) of donors was co-infected with both Hepatitis B and C viruses. By age, younger donors (18-26 years) had the highest prevalence of Malaria 2,136.18± 770.70 (μl of blood), Hepatitis B and C infections (18.2%) and By Sex, the highest prevalence (9.7%) of Hepatitis B and C infections was recorded among male while that of malaria 1,529.67± 703.41 (μl of blood) was recorded among female participants. In marital status, single participants had a higher prevalence (14.8%) of Hepatitis B and C infections compared to married persons, while that of malaria was 949.58± 146.01 (μl of blood) among the married donors. By Occupation, students had a higher prevalence (20.4%) of Hepatitis infections while malaria was 1,233.74±590.10 (μl of blood) among farmers. According to educational status, participants with only primary education had the highest prevalence (11.1%) of Hepatitis infections and participants with secondary education had malaria of 931.69±136.23 (μl of blood). There was variation in infection rates by blood groups, but not all were statistically significant.Conclusively, the blood donors in Ife Central Local Government Area, Ile Ife, South West of Nigeria harbour asymptomatic HBV, HCV and Malaria, although the prevalence of malaria, hepatitis B and C viral infections was low in this study, the results also showed that each haematological indices fall within the normal range.

Keywords: Blood; Health; Viral Infections; Hepatitis B Virus (HBV); Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

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