Infections of Hepatitis B and C and Malaria Plasmodium Falciparum among Blood Donors in Ife East Local Government Area, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Endemic regions for malaria are endemic for other infectious diseases that might affect the malaria infection. Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major global health problems. Moreover, infection with these viruses might be associated with an increased mortality rate as the infections may predispose to the development of serious liver diseases. The present study was carried out to determine the asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum co-infections with Hepatitis virus among blood donors in Ife East Local Government Area in Ile Ife. Osun State, Nigeria. Five (5) ml of venous blood was obtained from each of the participating 400 blood donors into plain bottles and labeled accordingly. Thick and thin films of the blood samples were made on slides, dried for five minutes at ambient temperature (370C) then stained with Giemsa’s stain. The stained slides were thereafter examined microscopically for the presence, species identification and densities of malaria parasites. The determinations of the haematological parameters were also conducted on the blood samples of the donors. The overall mean parasitaemia of malaria infection among the donors was 922.51± 103.063(µl/blood) while 11.0% Hepatitis virus infection, 4.0% HBV and 7.0% HCV are recorded in this study. The prevalence of Hepatitis virus infection 14.0% was highest among donors aged 21-30 years, HBV 6.4% was highest among donors aged 27-35 years. The highest 13.6% HCV was recorded among donors aged 18-26 years. The highest malaria infection with mean parasitaemia 1,318.1818± 624.03(µl of blood) was recorded among donors aged 18-26 years. 11.3% Hepatitis viral infection, 4.2% HCV, 7.1% HBV and mean malaria parasitaemia 931.596 ± 107.20 (µl of blood) were highest among male. The single has the highest prevalence of 12.0% Hepatitis virus infection and 8.9% HCV infection among the single donors while, 4.5% HBV infection and malaria infection with mean parasitaemia 936.9954± 138.91(µl of blood) was recorded among married donors. The highest 20.0% prevalence of Hepatitis virus infection, 7.3% HBV and 12.7% HCV were recorded among donors who are student while the malaria infection with mean parasitaemia 1,158.3710± 297.18 (µl of blood) was highest among donors who are trader. Among occupation the prevalence 12.5% Hepatitis virus infection was highest among donors with primary education, the highest 7.8% HCV was recorded among donors with secondary education, while the highest 6.3% HBV was recorded among donors with primary education. Donors with tertiary education has the highest malaria infection with mean parasitaemia 1,145.8793 ± 217.70 (µl of blood). Donors with O+ve blood group has the highest prevalence of Hepatitis infection 43.2%, while the highest 8.0% HBV was recorded among donors with B+ve blood group. The highest 20.0% HCV was recorded among donors with B-ve blood group. AB+ve blood donors had the highest malaria infection with mean parasitaemia 1,749.8000±1605.32 (µl of blood). Haematological parameters in this study are within the normal range. In conclusion, the blood donors in Ife East L.G.A, Ile Ife, harbour asymptomatic HBV, HCV and Malaria, although the prevalence of malaria, hepatitis B and C viral infections was low in this study, crucial screening of blood donors, creating awareness on the general public regarding transmission and prevention of the infections, provision and availability of vaccines against HBV should be expanded to cover every citizen. More aggressive strategies such as extensive environmental insecticide spraying, de-clogging of water ways and drainages as well as widespread and effective distribution of Insecticide Treated Nets and other anti-malarias should be adopted in the fight against malaria