Platelet and Red Cell Indices of anti-Dengue IgM Negative Blood Donors in Owo, Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Dengue affects an estimated 50 million people in approximately 100 countries annually and is one of the causative agents of viral haemorrhagic fever, which is transmitted primarily through Aedes mosquitoes and parenterally. The aim was to determine the incidence of Dengue virus infection among healthy blood donors in Owo, Southwest Nigeria and correlate the fundamental blood cells indices with Dengue infection. A total of 150 healthy blood donors were examined for presence of anti-dengue antibodies (IgM) to establish ongoing or recent dengue infection. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was used to assay for anti-Dengue IgM antibodies in the sera of 150 participants and their EDTA anticoagulated blood specimen were subjected to flow cytometry using Sysmex autoanalyser to quantify WBC, PLT, MPV, PDW, P-LCR, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC. Albeit, all participants tested negative to Dengue virus infection. Results obtained for WBC, PLT, MPV, PDW, P-LCR, HGB, HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC were 6.62±3.91, 212.23±113.34, 11.56±8.90, 15.13±12.40, 34.90±32.71, 12.30±2.06, 39.03±5.77, 82.56±9.05, 26.52±2.57 and 31.70±1.43 respectively. All participants who were adults tested negative and the haematological indices of the participants were normal. A reference range for the haematological indices among adults in Owo could be deduced from this work, while efforts should be put in place to sustain surveillance of neglected tropical diseases that are transmissible through blood transfusion for possible review of blood safety programmes in the region.