BURDEN OF MALARIAL PARASITEMIA

Abstract

Background : Hematology: 21st century is evolutionary in the arena of medicallaboratory sciences but immunological adverse reactions of blood transfusion and possibletransmission of transfusion transmissible infections are still in their peak. Transmission ofplasmodium via blood is significantly important because only a small fraction of infected redcells of donor blood can lead to cause malarial parasitemia in the recipient. Present studywas planned to determine the frequency of Transfusion based transmissible malaria amongapparently healthy blood donors. Method: This study was conducted in the department oftransfusion medicine, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. A total of 18,274 clinically healthy (volunteerand replacement) blood donors were included from 1stJanuary to 30th December 2014.Blood sample was collected through standard venipuncture method. The presence of malariaantigens was detected by the use of respective good quality immuno-chromatographic (ICT)devices. Results: Among the total 18,274 blood donors, 17,276 (94.53%) were found healthyand safe for transfusion. The remaining 998 (5.46%) donors were infected with any onetransfusion transmissible infection and therefore not suitable for blood donations. Among theinfected donors 20 (0.11%) blood donors were positive for malaria.We also evaluated monthwise prevalence of malaria, with highest positive rate detected in November. According toblood groups, highest prevalence was found in blood group B and the lowest was recorded inblood group AB. Conclusion: This study provided recent scenario of asymptomatic transfusiontransmissible Malaria among healthy blood donors population, therefore, it could play animportant role in limiting by drawing the attention of policy makers and health departmentofficials towards this serious health issue.