Seroprevalence Of Human T- Cell Lymphotropic Virus 1 And 2 In Blood Donors At Two Blood Donor Centres In Nairobi, Kenya.

Abstract

Background: Human T-cell Lymphotrophic Virus is known to cause Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma and HTLV-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic para-paresis. Transfusion of contaminated blood is the major mode of HTLV-1/2 transmission. Many countries have documented the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 in blood donors. This study aimed at determining the HTLV-1/2 prevalence among healthy blood donors in Blood Transfusion Center at Kenyatta National Hospital and the Regional blood Transfusion Center. Objectives: To determine the Human T-cell Lymphotrophic Virus -1/2 seroprevalence among eligible blood donors and to correlate HTLV-1/2 seroprevalence with other routinely tested Transfusion Transmissible Infections in Kenyatta National Hospital Blood Transfusion Unit and the Nairobi Regional Blood Transfusion Centre. Study design: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Materials and methods: One hundred and thirty-eight (138) blood donors who met the national guidelines for blood donation were consecutively recruited into the study. A questionnaire was administered and socio-demographic data recorded. Blood samples were drawn for routine tests and HTLV-1/2 serology which was carried out using HTLV-1/2 immunoglobulin G antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The results of routinely screened transfusion transmitted infections (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis) were obtained from the donor registers at the Blood Transfusion Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital and the Regional Blood Transfusion Center. Results: One hundred and thirty eight study participants were recruited, 71% (98) were male and 40 (29%) females. The age of the participants ranged between 18 to 59 years, 51% of participants’ age ranged between 21 and 30 years while those above 51 years and less than 20 years were the least. None of the study participants tested positive for HTLV-1/2 yielding a seroprevalence of 0% in this population. The prevalence rates of the routinely screened transfusion transmitted infections: HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and syphilis were 5.7%, 3.6%, 0.7%, 0% respectively. A correlation could not be made between routinely screened infections and HTLV-1/2 infection as the seroprevalence of HTLV was very low.

Conclusion: Human T-cell Lymphotrophic Virus-1/2 seroprevalence among eligible blood donors at the KNH BTU and Nairobi RBTC was low (0%) and may indicate that routine screening of the virus in this population of blood donors is unnecessary. Multiregional studies should be encouraged in order to expand the Kenya Transfusion Transmissible Infections Policy.