Prevalence Of Transfusion-Transmissible Haemoparasites And Associated Disruptions In Serum Iron Profile Among Blood Donors In Ibadan, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
Blood transfusion safety in sub-Saharan Africa remains compromised by transfusion-transmissible haemoparasites that fall outside routine mandatory donor screening. This study evaluated the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and microfilaraemia among prospective blood donors and examined associated alterations in serum iron and transferrin at the Blood Bank, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Nigeria. In a descriptive cross-sectional study, 300 apparently healthy prospective donors were recruited using a structured questionnaire. Thick and thin blood films stained with Giemsa were examined for malaria parasites, and Knott's concentration technique was used to detect microfilariae. Serum iron and transferrin were quantified by colorimetric and immunoturbidimetric assay, respectively, on the Roche/Hitachi Cobas C system. Malaria parasitaemia was detected in 51 donors (17.0%) and microfilariae in 4 donors (1.3%); no trypanosomes were identified. Mean serum iron was significantly lower in malaria-positive donors (10.3±3.4 μmol/L) than malaria-negative donors (14.3±4.8 μmol/L, p<0.001), and in microfilaria-positive donors (12.5±0.37 μmol/L) than microfilaria-negative donors (13.6±4.9 μmol/L, p=0.004). Serum transferrin was significantly lower in malaria-positive donors (2.15±0.27 g/L) than malaria-negative donors (2.35±0.77 g/L, p<0.001) but did not differ significantly by microfilaria status. Abnormal serum iron was significantly associated with malaria positivity (χ²=14.400, p<0.001) but not with microfilaria status. These findings demonstrate that occult haemoparasitaemia among asymptomatic blood donors is associated with measurable derangement of iron homeostasis, with implications for donor health and recipient safety. Routine malaria screening should be considered within donor selection algorithms in malaria- endemic transfusion settings.