Malaria Infection Among Blood Donors in Onitsha Urban, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Blood safety is a major issue of global concern in transfusion medicine especially in developing countries, where national blood transfusion policies and services as well as financial resources are lacking or inadequate. Transfusion-transmitted malaria is a potential health hazard but is often neglected in many malarious areas. Malaria infection among blood donors in Onitsha urban, Southeast Nigeria was studied between August and October 2008. Venous blood of donors was screened for malaria parasites using Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. The ABO and Rhesus phenotypes were classified using a haemaglutination standard test and demographic data of donors documented. Of the 410 blood donors analysed, 304 (74.1%) were infected. Plasmodium falciparium was identified in all positive cases and mixed infection with P. malariae was seen in 5(1.6%) cases. Infection significantly varied with age and not with sex and occupation (p<0.05). People with blood group O + showed significantly higher rate of infection (p<0.05). Since there is scarcity of voluntary donors in Nigeria, donor deferral done in non-malarial endemic regions cannot be practiced in Nigeria. The high prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in this area, suggests the need for careful screening of blood samples for malaria parasites. Positive samples should be indicated on the blood packs and transfusion of malaria positive blood requires the administration of curative dose of antimalarials to the patient. Commercial donors should be freely given mosquito treated bed nets and be encouraged to sleep under them.

Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and methaemoglobin levels among blood donors in Sokoto, Nigeria

“…In Abakaliki metropolis, Epidi et al, [13] in their work obtained malaria prevalence of (51.5%) among their blood donors. Similarly Ekwunife [1] reported an alarming high rate (74.1%) of malaria infection among blood donors in Onitsha urban area. The very high prevalence rates recorded by various researchers in the South Eastern part of the country as compared to the 32.5% prevalence obtained in this present study in Sokoto may be largely be due to difference in geographical zone.…”

“…Malaria is one of the world's deadliest diseases affecting people particularly in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Malaria remains the most complex and overwhelming health problem facing humanity [1], with 300 to 500 million cases and 2 to 3 million deaths per year [2]. The disease imposes serious effect on the blood, destroying red blood cells and interfering with the haemoglobin, disrupting the red blood cells pigment and converting haemoglobin to methaemoglobin leading to methaemoglobinaemia.…”

“…Transfusion therapy although a very important form of treatment in humans, it may be the only option for survival for many patients. Although this therapy helps to save lives, blood can nonetheless be a vehicle for transmission of infections including parasitic diseases [1].…”

Malaria in Pregnancy in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria

“…Initially, oral pyrimethamine and chloroquine administered weekly were used in various parts of Africa as chemoprophylatic agents. However, recent reports indicate that these are no longer effective in reducing parasitaemia in pregnancy as a result of the high incidence of chloroquine resistance [36]. Other agents that have been used for chemoprophylaxis in pregnant women include proquanil, deoxycycline, primaquine, deoxycycline, mefloquine, halofantrine, sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, artesunate and quinine but none has proven to be completely effective [37].…”

Direct Antiglobulin Reactions in Plasmodium falciparum Parasitized Patients in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

“…Malaria remains the most complex and overwhelming health problem facing humanity [1]. About 300 to 500 million cases and 2 to 3 million deaths occur per year.…”