Transfusional Malaria and Associated Factors at the National Blood Transfusion Center of Niamey-Niger: Global Perspective

Transfusional malaria is an accidental transmission of Plasmodium via a blood transfusion. Its
magnitude is underestimated and very little data on the assessment of this risk are available in Niger.
However, the blood requirement for sickle cell anemia and children suffering from severe malaria with
anemia is very important.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of plasmodial infection of blood bags at the
National Blood Transfusion Center of Niamey (NBTC).
Methodology: A cross-sectional study to diagnose Plasmodium infection by microscopy and Rapid
Diagnostic Test (RDT) was carried out during the rainy season (September to November 2015). Blood
grouping was performed by the BETH-VINCENT technique.
Results: One thousand three hundred and fifty-seven (1357) blood bags were collected. One
hundred and fifty-seven (11.6%) of the donors were infected with Plasmodium by microscopy and
2.4% (9/369) by rapid diagnostic test. All infections were with P. falciparum (100%). The mean
parasite density was 197 parasitesμL (SD=281; [80: 2000]). There were no significant differences in
infection prevalence between the ABO blood groups (p = 0.3) or the rhesus positivity (p=08). There is
also no significant difference in temporal (p = 0.1) and spatial (p = 0.6) distribution.
Conclusion: The transmission of transfusional malaria during the rainy season is a fact in Niger.
Such risks were independent of the ABO blood type and positivity for the rhesus antigen.
Pretransfusion diagnosis or posttransfusion therapy should be instituted to prevent it.