TITLE:
Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Treponema pallidum among First-Time Blood Donors in Lambaréné, a Semi-Urban Area of Gabon
AUTHORS:
Soulemane Parkouda, Issoufou Tao, Saidou Mahmoudou, Cyrille Bisseye
KEYWORDS:
Blood Donors, HBsAg, HIV, Syphilis, Lambaréné, Gabon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Blood Diseases,
Vol.15 No.4,
November
12,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, the high prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Treponema pallidum remains a major challenge for blood safety. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV and Treponema pallidum among first-time blood donors in Lambaréné, a semi-urban area in central western Gabon. Methods: Screening for HIV, HBV and Treponema pallidum was performed using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Results: Of the 1530 predominantly male donors, 150 (9.8%) were seropositive for at least one infectious marker and 5 (0.33%) had serological suspicion of multiple infections. The overall seropositive of HIV, HBsAg and syphilis was 2.68%, 5.16% and 1.63%, respectively. The seropositivity of HIV and syphilis was not associated with either sex or donors’ age. Only HBsAg was significantly higher in donors of the age groups 20 - 29 years and ≥50 years compared to donors of the age group 30 - 39 years (7% vs 3.1, AOR = 2.24, P = 0.016; 13% vs 3.1, AOR = 4.5, P = 0.017). Conclusion: Low seropositivity of HIV, HBsAg and syphilis were found among first-time blood donors in Lambaréné compared to those reported in the general population or among blood donors in Libreville. This could be due to the difference of blood-borne epidemiology between Libreville and Lambaréné or the use of RDTs in the qualification of blood donations, which could underestimate the detection of TTIs, particularly in blood donors in the seroconversion phase.