Volume 60, Issue 335, May - August 2024

Prevalence of blood-borne parasitosis: Case of Loa loa filariasis among first-time blood donors attending the Benjamin Ngoubou Regional Hospital of Tchibanga, Nyanga province, Southwestern Gabon

Thiéry Ndong Mba^1,2♦, Hilaire Moundounga Kenguele¹, Joefred Mbogho Abogho², Ulrich Lowens Onkassa Sah¹, Aldrain Jonas Ewore Ntoutoume¹, Louis-Clement Obame Engonga²

¹Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory (MCBLAB), University of Science and Technology of Masuku (USTM), Franceville, Gabon
²Biochemistry Research Laboratory (BIORELAB), University of Science and Technology of Masuku (USTM), Franceville, Gabon
³Laboratory of Animal Physiology, University of Science and Technology of Masuku (USTM), Franceville, Gabon

^♦Corresponding Author
Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory (MCBLAB), Biochemistry Research Laboratory (BIORELAB), University of Science and Technology of Masuku (USTM), Franceville, Gabon

ABSTRACT

Background: Many blood receivers around the world are exposed to blood-borne diseases such as filariaisis. Unfortunately, microfilaria worms are not screened for during blood transfusion in Gabon and other endemic countries. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence Loa loa filariasis among firsttime blood donors attending the Benjamin Ngoubou Regional Hospital of Tchibanga, South-western Gabon. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May 22 to August 18, 2023 at the medical analysis laboratory of the Tchibanga Regional Hospital. Blood samples were collected from first-time donors who signed a written informed consent form. Loa loa diagnosis was carried out using direct optical microscopy and cytoconcentration techniques. Prospective blood donors who agreed to participate in the study were subjected to a structured questionnaire containing sociodemographic information and Loa loa associated risk factors. The collected data were entered into an Excel 2016 spreadsheet, exported to R software (version 4.1.1.) in its R Commander Interface, and analyzed using logistic regression. Results: A total of 620 first-time blood donors, with a mean age of 33 ± 7.7 years, were included in this study. The prevalence of Loa loa microfilariae among the first-time donors in this study was 5.16% (95% CI: [0.04- 0.80]), (n= 32). Univariate and multivariate analyses using logistic regression revealed that being a student (adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.004; 95% CI: [0.000 - 0.07]) working in the informal sector (adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.006; 95% CI: [0.001 - 0.08]), and belonging to the blood group AB+ (adjusted Odds Ratio = 0.11; 95% CI: [4.93 - 26. 2]) appear to be protected from Loa loa infection. In contrast, prospective blood donors residing in rural areas (adjusted Odds Ratio = 5.48; 95% CI: [1.42 -1. 48], belonging to blood groups A+ (adjusted Odds Ratio = 40.7; 95% CI: [5.11 - 33.07]) and B+ (adjusted Odds Ratio = 29.1; 95% CI: [14.1 - 6.73]), having a history of blood transfusions (adjusted Odds Ratio = 56.36; 95% CI: [8.13 - 36.24]), and being anemic (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.67; 95% CI: [0.29 - 0.96]) were significantly more exposed to Loa loa microfilariae. Conclusion: The results of this study raises concerns and highlights the need to include the diagnosis of blood - borne parasites during blood donation and blood transfusion in Gabon.

Keywords: Prevalence, Loa loa filariasis, First-time donors, Tchibanga, Gabon.

Discovery, 2024, 60, e19d1436

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.54905/disssi.v60i335.e19d1436

Published: 29 May 2024