Syphilis Seroprevalence among Blood Donors at the Chad National Blood Transfusion Center in N’Djamena
Mbanga Djimadoum
Hematology Unit (National Reference Hospital-University Center), Chad and Faculty of Human Health Sciences (University of N’Djamena), Chad and National Blood Transfusion Center (CNTS), Chad.
Bessimbaye Nadlaou *
Hematology Unit (National Reference Hospital-University Center), Chad and Laboratory Service (National Reference Hospital-University Center), Chad and Faculty of Human Health Sciences (University of N’Djamena), Chad.
Ali Mahamat Moussa
Faculty of Human Health Sciences (University of N’Djamena), Chad.
Abba Alifa Mahamat
Faculty of Human Health Sciences (University of N’Djamena), Chad.
Soureya Zakaria
National Blood Transfusion Center (CNTS), Chad.
Brahim Boy Otchom
Faculty of Human Health Sciences (University of N’Djamena), Chad.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This involves evaluating the risk of syphilis transfusion in blood donors having a reaction to the group antigen and confirming positive or negative by the treponemal test.
From August 2019 to August 2020, an observational study of syphilitic markers was conducted with blood donors (replacement families and volunteers non-remunerated) at the Center National de Transfusion Sanguine de N’Djamena. The donors included were also tested negative for the markers (HBsAg, Ab anti HCV, Ag /Ab HIV) according to standard methods of clinical microbiology.
During one year, 24587 donors were identified of which 654 (2.65%) were confirmed positive by the treponemal test. Different positive rates of syphilis were determined in family replacement donors (94%), voluntary non-remunerated donors (6.12%), male (86%) and female (13%) respectively.
This study determined a level of specific antigen for syphilis in a study population that reacted positively to the non-treponemal test.
In view of this result, we recommend screening with the treponemal test in any blood donor having a reaction with a non-treponemal test in order to minimize the residual risk of transmission of syphilis among blood donors in Chad.
Keywords: Seroprevalence, syphilis, blood donors, CNTS, N’Djamena