Prevalence of malaria in blood donors in Abakaliki Metropolis, Nigeria

In view of the problem of transfusional malaria, the prevalence of Plasmodium in transfused blood was assessed. Blood film examination for malaria parasites in donor blood transfused to patients in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State of Nigeria was carried out over a 5-month period. Blood group O was the dominant blood type (74%). A high malaria parasite prevalence rate of 51.5% was noted in transfused donor blood. All blood groups and Rhesus factor types were infected with malaria parasites and there was no significant increase in malaria infection rate in any particular blood group type. Method of blood procurement was observed as a major risk factor of transmission, with commercial blood donor having the highest proportion of parasitic contamination.