International Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences, ISSN: 2051-5731, Vol., Issue. 1 © RECENT SCIENCE PUBLICATIONS ARCHIVES |July 2014|$25.00 | 27703665| *This article is authorized for use only by Recent Science Journal Authors, Subscribers and Partnering Institutions* Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigenemia and Hepatitis C Virus among Intending Blood Donors at Mother and Child Hospital, Akure, Nigeria Mujeeb O Shittu Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Chemical Pathology Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria Email:shifemjay1@gmail.com Saheed A Adekola Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Chemical Pathology Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria Email:saheedadekola24@gmail.com Kehinde O Ajao Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Osun State Hospital Management Board, Osun State, Nigeria Email:ajaokehinde11@yahoo.com Tomiwa W Adeniji Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Medical Microbiology Unit, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, Nigeria Email:jarryjok@yahoo.com Christianah O Awe Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Ondo State Hospital Management Board, Mother and Child Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria Email:olayemiawe007@gmail.com ABSTRACT Hepatitis B and C viruses’ infections are one of the world’s most common infectious diseases infecting two billion people including an estimated 400 million with the chronic infection cases. This present study was performed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses among intending blood donors at Mother and Child Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. 2920 intending blood donors were screened between the periods of March 2010 to April 2011 using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) tests. The prevalence of Hepatitis infections among the intending blood donors was 290(9.9%). HBsAg and anti-HCV were reactive in 7.4% and 2.1% of the study population respectively while co- infection was recorded in 0.4% of the intending donors. In conclusion, this study confirmed the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and HCV among intending blood donors and that these infections can be transmitted through blood donors in Akure, Nigeria. Keyword- Hepatitis B, hepatitis C, Blood donors, Nigeria, Akure 1. INTRODUCTION Hepatitis B and C viruses’ infections are global health problems [1]. It is one of the world’s most common infectious diseases infecting two billion people including an estimated 400 million with the chronic infection cases [2]. Hepatitis B is highly endemic in developing countries such as China, South East Asia and sub-Sahara Africa [3]. Nigeria is classified among the group of highly endemic countries for HBV infection. About 75% of the Nigerian population is reportedly likely to have been exposed to HBV at one time or the other in their life [4]. The possibility of transmission of HBV is on the increase in Nigeria as a result of increase in road accidents, pregnancy-related hemorrhage, armed robbery attacks and violent events as reported by the United Nations Systems in Nigeria [5]. Hepatitis C virus infection is another common chronic blood borne infection with an estimated 3.9 million persons infected with the virus globally with the highest prevalence rate recorded in Africa. It has a high rate of development of liver cirrhosis [6], [7]. HBV and HCV infections are known to be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, unsafe blood transfusion, scarification with contaminated needles and vertical transmission among others [8], [9]. There are no specific treatments for the acute symptoms of Hepatitis B virus infection, but some measures such as prevention of dehydration, balanced diet, proper bed rest and avoidance of alcoholic beverages are recommended [10]. HBV and HCV can be prevented by avoiding contact with infected blood and body fluids, including semen and vaginal secretions of infected individuals [11]. Safe blood transfusion is also important in the prevention of these viruses. Studies have shown that international models and standards for organizing blood banks and