Browsing by Author "Adjei, A.A.,"

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    Prevalence of Antibodies to Human Tlymphotropic Virus Type I Among Blood Donors at the 37th Military Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
    (University of Ghana, 2004-06) Narter-Olaga, E.G.; Adjei, A.A.,; Wiredu, E.K.; Tettey, Y.; Gyasi, R. K.; Wadhwani, J. M.; University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences Department of Pathology
    Several infectious diseases have been found to be associated with transfusion o f whole blood or blood components. Reports from studies conducted in many African countries indicate a high incidence of blood-borne pathogens such as human T-lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) among healthy blood donors. Experimental data indicate that a r. ajor route for transmission o f the HTLV-I is through blood transfusion. The prevalence o f HTLV-I antibodies among blood donors in Ghana is not well documented. Population surveys cannot be conducted for financial reasons and therefore sentinel studies are the only means for providing information on the transmissions of infections such as HTLV-I, as well as monitoring the changes over time. The study was therefore undertaken to determine the prevalence o f HTLV-I antibodies among blood donors, between the months of January to April 2004 at the 37th Military Hospital Blood Transfusion Service, Accra, Ghana. A combination o f particle agglutination test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess the prevalence and distribution of antibodies to HTLV-I. A structured questionnaire was also administered to the blood donors after an informed oral and written consent was taken. This involved questions on personal information, knowledge about HTLV-I transfusion, sexual behaviour, lifestyle and histories o f transfusion-transmitted diseases. Beginning from January to April 2004, blood samples were collected from blood donors, serum separated and analysed for the presence of antibodies to HTLV-I. A total o f 1225 samples (1158 males and 67 females) were analysed. Their ages ranged from 20-69 years; with majority (75.5%; 925/1225) of the blood donors studied between the 30-^9 years age group. Ofth e 1225 samples tested, 1196 were negative and 29 were positive lor HTLV-I antibodies giving a prevalence rate of 2.4%. Two females were positive out o f 67 (2.9%) and 27 males were positive out o f 1158 (2.3%) male donors. Majority of the donors were married (914; 74.6%) and the rest (311; 25.4%) were not married. Of the married donors, 21 were positive for HTLV-I antibodies, giving a prevalence rate o f 2.3% among married donor. Most of