Parasitological Profile of Perstans filariasis among Blood Donors in Ile-Ife, Southwest, Nigeria

Abstract

Filariasis transmission occurs during blood transfusion which poses a serious menace to the recipient of the blood and reduces 
blood availability in the blood bank. This study was conducted at Ile – Ife, in Osun State Southwest Nigeria between March and 
September, 2009 with a view to determine the prevalence of blood filariasis among blood donors in relation to age, sex and 
occupation of the donors. The blood samples of 250 donors were parasitologically examined directly with wet preparation, 
while the thick and thin films prepared from the Knott concentration method were stained with Giemsa staining technique for 
the presence of filarial worms. Out of the total 250 blood samples examined, 23(9.2%) were positive for filarial worm. The 
specie of filarial worm detected was mainly Mansonella perstans .The distribution of blood filariasis was higher among infected 
male donors 18 (78.2%) than their female counterparts 5(21.8%). Peak distribution was observed among blood donors aged 
between 21-30years old 15(65.2%), followed by donors aged 31-40years 5(21.7%) and least among donors in age bracket 41-
50years 3(13.0%). Those within the age group of 10-20years had no filarial worms in their blood. Further studies also revealed 
that filarial worms were not found in the blood of the volunteer donors while the positive cases (9.2%) were found in the blood 
of the commercial blood donors. Among the later, distribution of filariasis was highest among those that are farmers 10(43.5%), 
followed by commercial motorcyclists 6(26.1%), Bricklayers 3(13.0%) and the least filarial frequency was observed among 
traders 2(8.7%) and Lumbers 2(8.7%) respectively. This study confirms that some blood donors in Ile –Ife and its environs still 
harbor filarial worms in their blood and there is a tendency to infect the recipients through blood transfusion thereby spreading 
the infection and thus complicating the heamatological status of these recipients.