The prevalence of Herpes simplex virus type-2 infection in blood donors in Harare, Zimbabwe
Gwanzura, L.; Chigonda, T.G.; Mvere, D.; De Villiers, D.M.; Siziya, S.; Mason, P.R.
Central African Journal of Medicine 48(3-4): 38-42
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0008-9176 PMID: 12971156 Document Number: 251580
To determine the prevalence of HSV-2 infections in a population of blood donors. Cross sectional study. Harare Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) Centre. 314 serum specimens of voluntary blood donors. HSV-2 sero-prevalence. The median age (Q1, Q3) of the blood donors was 18 (17,27) years and 65% of them were males. HSV-2 infection was detected in 29 (9.7%) of the 299 specimens that were analyzed. There was a strong association between age of blood donors and HSV-2 seropositivity (p < 0.001). Older blood donors tended to be positive while younger donors tended to be negative for HSV-2 antibodies. Though not as strong, there was also an association between HSV-2 and HIV seropositivity (p = 0.048). The prevalence of HSV-2 infections in blood donors in Harare is high, considering the nature of the population studied. Therefore, the testing for HSV-2 in the serum of prospective blood donors should be included in the screening profiles used at the BTS centre in Harare, Zimbabwe to improve blood and blood products.