Methemoglobin levels among malaria parasite-infected blood donors in Nnewi, Southeastern, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Safety of blood and blood products is of immense concern in transfusion medicine. Malaria parasite (MP) which is known to be endemic in the tropics has been shown to disrupt hemoglobin molecule converting it to nonfunctional methemoglobin which is unable to transport oxygen effectively. Objective: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of malaria parasitemia and methemoglobin level among blood donors attending Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH). Subjects and Methods: A total of 100 apparently healthy blood donors aged 18-60 years were recruited and tested for MP, methemoglobin level, and packed cell volume (PCV), after obtaining ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of NAUTH and informed consent of the participants. Methemoglobin was assayed by cyanmethemoglobin method, and MP was tested using thick and thin blood film and PCV by microhematocrit method. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Results: Among the 100 blood donors screened, 75 of the participants representing 75% were positive for MP and 25 representing 25% tested negative. Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for all cases of parasitemia. The mean values of methemoglobin were significantly higher in asymptomatic MP infected blood donors than in noninfected donors, while PCV was significantly reduced in malaria infected donors compared to noninfected donors (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This study identified a high rate of malaria parasitemia in blood donors and an elevated methemoglobin level in asymptomatic MP infected donors. Screening of blood donors for MP is advocated and exclusion of infected donors may be necessary.