Serological and molecular screening for viruses in blood donors from Ntcheu, Malawi: High prevalence of HIV-1 subtype C and of markers of hepatitis Band C viruses

The prevalence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) , hepatitis C virus (HCV), human T lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-I), and hepat itis B (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) was determined in blood donors from Nt cheu, Malawi. Each donation was also screened for HIV-1 RNA and HCV RNA. Am ong 159 blood donations, the prevalence of HIV-1 infection was 10.7%, 8.1% for HBV carriage, 6.8% for anti-HCV, and 2.5% for anti-HTLV-I. HIV-1/HTLV-I and HIV-1/HCV dual infections were observed in 1.2% of the donations. Cons equently, 13% of blood donors from Ntcheu should be deferred for retroviral infections and 15% for hepatitis viral infections. Sequence analyses of th e HIV-1 strains revealed a relatively homogeneous circulation of subtype C viruses in Malawi. These findings confirm the high endemicity of blood-born e viruses in Malawi and the need for a sensitive viral screening of blood d onations to improve blood safety. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.