Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus among blood donors in Nyala, South Dar Fur, Sudan

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and the possible risk factors among blood donors in Nyala, South Dar Fur State of western Sudan, which has never been studied before. A total of 400 male blood donors were tested for the detection of HBsAg and anti-HCV antibodies, (6.25%) were found reactive for HBsAg and (0.65%) were reactive for anti-HCV antibodies. The highest seroprevalence (30.8%) was found in those between 19-24 and 37-42 years for HBsAg, whereas it was (50%) in those between 31-36 years for anti-HCV antibodies. Unprotected sexual activities (20%) was the most apparent predisposing risk factor for both HBV and HCV seroreactors, followed by razor sharing (13.3%), parenteral drug injections (10%), history of migration to Egypt and alcoholism (6.6%) for each, tattooing and surgical procedures (3.3%) for each and (36.6%) were not aware for their condition. Serum alanine aminotansferase (ALT) was elevated in (30.7%) of HBV seroreactors and in (50%) of HCV seroreactors. Serum albumin was reduced in (23.1%) HBV and in (50%) HCV seroreactors. The study concluded that the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV was in an intermediate and low rates respectively and unprotected sexual activities was the major risk factor for infection in the population studied.

Seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections (TTI), in first time blood donors in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

“…In Another study in Burkina Faso, HBV was the most prevalent TTI (13.4%) of donors screened 15 . Other similar studies from other parts of sub-Saharan Africa have given similar high prevalence of HBV among blood donors for instance in South Sudan, 6.25% HBV prevalence was reported 16 . In Eritrea, data from their National blood transfusion service is also in agreement with our current report 17 .…”

Epidemiology and molecular characterization of hepatitis B virus in Luanda, Angola

“…Some predisposing risk factors have been associated with HBV infection in different African populations, such as unprotected sexual activities (Abou et al 2009), multiple sexual partners and blood transfusions (Adoga et al 2009). In this cohort of Angolans, HBV infection was not associated with the most common predisposing risk factors, which is probably due to the very high rate of HBV infection in this cohort (about 80%).…”

Hepatitis B and C virus infections among pregnant women in Arab and African countries

“…In Sudan, the prevalence of HCV among pregnant women (0.6%) is lower than that in the general population (2.2% to 3%) [30,51,52]. Therefore, the northern part of the River Nile region is considered to be a highly endemic area for HCV and the southern part is less endemic, with a very low prevalence among pregnant women.…”

“…Being the long-term steady sex partner of an HCVinfected individual is not a risk factor [108], as the role of sexual transmission itself in HCV infection needs validation [109]. An important but controversial risk factor is intrafamilial exposure [52,95,100,110]. In Iraq, repeated abortion has been shown to be a risk factor [48], probably because of the possibility of curettage and blood transfusion.…”