SEROPREVALENCE STUDY OF HTLV-1 and 2 IN PROSPECTIVE BLOOD DONORS AND PREGNANT WOMEN IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA.

Authors

  • Caroline Iyalla Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, PH
  • ADEBAYO OSEIKHUEMEN EJELE University of Port Harcourt
  • Dorathy Adaunwo Okoh BraithWaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt.
  • Elizabeth Igbigbi University of Port Harcourt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21010/ajid.v9i2.8

Keywords:

HTLV-1/2, Seroprevalence, Blood donors, pregnant women, HIV, Co-infection, Risk factors

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Infection with Human T-cell Lymphotropic virus type 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) is a global epidemic. Nigeria is in the endemic region of HTLV -1/ 2 infections. The diseases caused by these viruses are incurable and life-threatening. There is no data yet on the seroprevalence of these viruses in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. We determined the seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 by identifying antibodies to the virus in Nigerians resident in Port Harcourt. Methods and Materials: This was a cross-sectional study we carried out on a total of 360 participants (139 potential blood donors and 221 pregnant women) at the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH) and University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). The participants were also given self –administered questionnaires. We screened for antibodies to HTLV-1 and 2 in the sera of the participants using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also screened for antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1/2) using qualitative immunoassay determine test strips. Results: Two (1.4%) of blood donors were positive for HTLV, both were males and 1 (0.8) was in the 25-34years age group while the other was in the 35-44years age group. There was an association between Sexually transmitted Diseases (STD) and previous blood transfusion with HTLV positivity. No pregnant women tested positive to HTLV. There were no cases of co-infection of HIV with HTLV. Conclusion: The results suggest low prevalence of HTLV in blood donors and pregnant women in Port Harcourt.

Author Biographies

Caroline Iyalla, Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, PH

Haematologist

ADEBAYO OSEIKHUEMEN EJELE, University of Port Harcourt

Professor of Haematology Depart of Haematology, Blood transfusion and Immunology

Dorathy Adaunwo Okoh, BraithWaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt.

Consultant Haematologist and Head, Department of Pathology.

Elizabeth Igbigbi, University of Port Harcourt

Consultant Haematologist and Head, Department of Haematology, Blood transfusion and Immunology

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Published

2015-04-17

How to Cite

Iyalla, C., EJELE, A. O., Okoh, D. A., & Igbigbi, E. (2015). SEROPREVALENCE STUDY OF HTLV-1 and 2 IN PROSPECTIVE BLOOD DONORS AND PREGNANT WOMEN IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA. African Journal of Infectious Diseases (AJID), 9(2), 57–60. https://doi.org/10.21010/ajid.v9i2.8

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2015)

Section

Articles

License

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