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Background and Objective: The high prevalence of numerous transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases such as HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa affects blood safety for transfusion recipients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of transfusion-transmissible infectious diseases among blood donors in Burkina Faso., Methods: A retrospective study of blood donors' records from January to December 2009 was conducted. Prevalence and incidence of viral infections were calculated among repeat and first-time blood donors., Results: Of the total of 31405 first-time volunteer blood donors in 2009, 24.0% were infected with at least one pathogen and 1.8% had serological evidence of multiple infections. The seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in first-time volunteer donors was 1.8%, 13.4%, 6.3% and 2.1%, respectively. In 3981 repeat donors, the incidence rate was 3270.2, 5874.1 and 6784.6 per 100000 donations for anti-HIV-1, HBsAg and anti-HCV, respectively. These numbers varied significantly according to populations where blood is collected and blood centres in Burkina Faso., Conclusion: The relatively high prevalence of viral markers in first-time volunteers and remarkably high incidence of infections in repeat donors raise concerns regarding the safety of these donors and suggest that implementation of NAT might significantly improve the situation., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Background: The high prevalence of numerous transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa affects the safety of blood for recipients. This study was undertaken with the aim of determining the seroprevalence of HIV, HCV, HBV, syphilis and socio-demographic risk factors associated with blood donation in a new regional blood transfusion centre in Burkina Faso., Material and Methods: Sera samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies to HCV, HIV types 1 and 2 and to Treponema pallidum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and Rapid Plasma Reagin test (RPR) respectively. All the reactive samples for HIV, HBsAg, and HCV were confirmed using a second enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Antibodies to Treponema pallidum were confirmed with a Treponema pallidum haemagglutination test (TPHA)., Results: From the total of 4,520 blood donors in 2009, 1,348 (29.82%) were infected with at least one pathogen and 149 (3.30%) had serological evidence of multiple infections. The overall seroprevalence rate of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis was 2.21%, 14.96%, 8.69% and 3.96%, respectively. Among blood donors with multiples infections, the most common dual or triple combinations were HBsAg-HCV (1.39%), HBsAg-syphilis (0.66%) and HBsAg-HCV-syphilis (0.11%). The highest prevalences of HBsAg and HIV were found among blood donors from rural areas and in the age groups of 20-29 years and >40 years old, respectively., Conclusion: HBV and HCV remain the greatest threats to blood safety in Burkina Faso. Strict selection and retention of voluntary, non-remunerated low-risk blood donors are recommended to improve blood safety in the regional blood transfusion centre of Koudougou.

This study was undertaken to investigate relationships between three widespread viruses in West Africa, i.e. HIV1 and viruses B and D, in Ivory Coast. Serologic tests for viruses B and D were carried out in a random sample of black adults of both sexes with asymptomatic HIV1 seropositivity. Coinfection by virus B or viruses B and D was a common finding. Coinfection with both viruses B and D, but not with virus B alone, was found to be significantly more frequent in these HIV1-infected adults than in a control group with acute viral hepatitis. Potential interactions between the HIV1 and viruses B and D as well as other viruses are discussed. These findings suggest that one or several cofactors acting alone or in combination play a major role in the clinical expression of HIV infection. The results of this study, together with the suggestion put forward by several investigators that B virus infection may increase the severity of AIDS, are evidence in support of the value of immunization against the B virus in the management of AIDS.

During the period from January to December 1987, 2,191 serum samples were collected from different groups of the population in the Ivory Coast (1,126 healthy people selected from the general population, 416 blood donors, 112 healthy anti-HIV carriers, 173 AIDS patients, and 364 patients suffering from icterigenic hepatitis) and tested for anti-HIV (HIV-1 and HIV-2) antibodies, HBsAg, HBeAg, delta antigen (HDAg), and anti-delta (anti-HD) antibody. Anti-HIV antibodies were found in 30 (2.6%) of the general population. 55 (13.2%) blood donors, and 93 (25.5%) patients suffering from icterigenic hepatitis. HBsAg was observed in 103 (9.1%) of the general population, 45 (10.8%) blood donors, 15 (13.4%) healthy anti-HIV carriers, 59 (34.1%) AIDS patients, and 45 (40%) icterigenous hepatitis patients. The simultaneous presence of anti-HIV and HBsAg was noted in 4 (0.4%) of the general population, 8 (2%) blood donors, 15 (13.4%) healthy anti-HIV carriers, 59 (34.1%) AIDS cases, and 36 (10%) patients suffering from icterigenic hepatitis. A high prevalence of HBeAg and serological markers of infection by the delta agent were noted in the different groups. HDAg was noted only among AIDS patients or those suffering from icterigenic hepatitis, with a higher frequency among anti-HIV carriers. Our conclusion from this study is that healthy anti-HIV carriers are no more likely to be HBsAg carriers than the HIV-seronegative subjects. However, immunodeficiency induced previously by HIV infection is likely to be responsible for the high prevalence of HBsAg among AIDS patients.

A total of 103 volunteers, from 18 to 55 years of age have received subcutaneous injection of the hevac B Pasteur 5 micrograms vaccine: one injection a month during three months and one booster injection after one year. The study of the anti-HBs reaction of the subjects, with regard to the serologicale status to the hepatitis B virus before inoculation, has shown that only 78.8% of the subjects, who are only positive towards the anti-HBc antibody, will develop an anti-HBs response of primary type with a relatively low value. On the contrary, all anti-HBc and/or anti-HBs subjects, who were positive before inoculation, react with relatively high anti-HBs value immediately after the first injection. 93.3% of the seronegative subjects before inoculation will develop an anti-HBs seroconversion after the complete inoculation procedure.