Serological and molecular screening for viruses in blood donors from Ntcheu, Malawi: high prevalence of HIV-1 subtype C and of markers of hepatitis B and C viruses

J Med Virol. 2001 Sep;65(1):1-5.

Abstract

The prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human T lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-I), and hepatitis B (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) was determined in blood donors from Ntcheu, Malawi. Each donation was also screened for HIV-1 RNA and HCV RNA. Among 159 blood donations, the prevalence of HIV-1 infection was 10.7%, 8.1% for HBV carriage, 6.8% for anti-HCV, and 2.5% for anti-HTLV-I. HIV-1/HTLV-I and HIV-1/HCV dual infections were observed in 1.2% of the donations. Consequently, 13% of blood donors from Ntcheu should be deferred for retroviral infections and 15% for hepatitis viral infections. Sequence analyses of the HIV-1 strains revealed a relatively homogeneous circulation of subtype C viruses in Malawi. These findings confirm the high endemicity of blood-borne viruses in Malawi and the need for a sensitive viral screening of blood donations to improve blood safety.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Blood Donors*
  • HIV Antibodies / blood
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Seroprevalence
  • HIV-1 / classification
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification
  • HTLV-I Antibodies / blood
  • HTLV-I Infections / epidemiology
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / analysis
  • Hepatitis C / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies / blood
  • Humans
  • Malawi / epidemiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Viral / blood*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • HIV Antibodies
  • HTLV-I Antibodies
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis C Antibodies
  • RNA, Viral

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF309421
  • GENBANK/AF309422
  • GENBANK/AF309423
  • GENBANK/AF309424
  • GENBANK/AF309425
  • GENBANK/AF309426
  • GENBANK/AF309427
  • GENBANK/AF309428
  • GENBANK/AF309429
  • GENBANK/AF309430
  • GENBANK/AF309431
  • GENBANK/AF309432
  • GENBANK/AF309433
  • GENBANK/AF309434
  • GENBANK/AF309435
  • GENBANK/AF309436
  • GENBANK/AF309437
  • GENBANK/AF309438
  • GENBANK/AF309439
  • GENBANK/AF309440
  • GENBANK/AF309441