Background/Case Studies: Arboviruses are not routinely screened in blood banks in Colombia. Therefore, collecting blood from asymptomatic infected blood donors with high viremias is a risk in blood banks located in endemic regions. In addition, the prevalence of arbovirosis in the general population changes across epidemiological periods, which is also expectable in blood donors. This study aimed to estimate and compare the prevalence of arbovirus infections in blood donors in Colombia between an epidemic and endemic period.
Study
Design/Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study compared the prevalence of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV infections in blood donors in Colombia between an epidemic (November 2019-February 2020, n=462) and an endemic period (November 2021-August 2022, n=1,119). Viral RNA was purified from the sera of accepted blood donors in four blood banks in endemic regions (0-1,984 masl) and two in non-endemic regions (2,200-2,600 masl). DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV RNA were detected using a previously standardized multiplex semi-nested RT-PCR protocol. Sample processing was conducted in fresh samples (maximum seven days post-donation). Prevalences are presented as percentages, and comparisons between epidemic and endemic periods were made using the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test, with Bonferroni's test for multiple comparisons (p < 0.05; Stata v16).
Results/Findings: The total prevalence of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV infections in blood donors was 29.7% in endemic and 19.8% in non-endemic regions during the epidemic period (2019-2020). In contrast, the prevalence significantly decreased to 4.9% in endemic and 5.6% in non-endemic regions during the endemic period (2021-2022; p< 0.05; figure A). Conclusions: The observed prevalence of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV infections in blood donors in Colombia was higher than those reported in other countries of the America's region, such as Puerto Rico and Brazil. Differences in the analytical sensitivity of RNA extraction, RT-PCR protocol, or sample quality (< seven days) might influence these results. Therefore, hemovigilance studies in transfusion recipients are suggested to estimate the frequency and impact of possible arbovirus transmission through transfusion.
Importance of research: Arboviruses are not routinely screened blood banks in endemic countries. An analytical cross-sectional study compared the prevalence of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV RNAemia in blood donors in Colombia between an epidemic (2019- 2020; n=462) and an endemic period (2021- 2022; n=1,119). The observed prevalence of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV infections in blood donors in Colombia, both in endemic and epidemic periods (4.9-29.7%), was higher than those reported in other countries of the America's region.
