Human Parvovirus B19 Infections Among Blood Donors in Some Selected Blood Centers in Ghana

Abstract

Background: Blood transfusion is a lifesaving therapy in hospital practice for patients. It is an invaluable human resource for a wide range of medical and surgical conditions. Human Parvovirus B19 is the only member of the Parvoviridae family known to be pathogenic to humans. Infections of parvovirus B19 occur all year round. It is also manifest in all age groups. A number of the patients show subclinical manifestations. Aim: The aim of this research was to determine the sero-prevalence of Human Parvovirus B19 infections among blood donors at selected blood centers in Ghana. Method: The research was a cross- sectional study carried out among blood donors who donated blood at the selected blood banks from March 2019 to March 2020. Blood samples were collected from the participants and screened for both IgG and IgM antibodies to Human Parvovirus B19 using ELISA Kits to establish the sero prevalence of Human Parvovirus B19 among the blood donors. Risk factors associated with the spread of the infections were also determined. Results: Majority of the participants for the study were males (93.7%). About70.7% of them were between the ages of 30 to 39 years. Ten (10) of participants tested positive for the IgM antibodies (Reactive), indicating that 5.9% of the total participants had the Human parvovirus B19. 108 (64.7%) of the participants were reactive for the IgG antibodies, representing those that have been exposed to the Human parvovirus B19. The study participants have not had any blood transfusion. About 47.3% had however donated blood before. The study also showed that none of the participants had multiple sex partners, used drugs, smoked or shared needles but about 22.8% had however received hepatitis B vaccination. Conclusion: The study shows that more than 50% of the participants were reactive to the IgG antigen and 5.9% were reactive for the IgM antibodies. The study therefore recommends that parvovirus screening must be included in the procedure for blood donation.