West Nile virus IgG antibodies among blood donors in Sudan: a crosssectional study

Background: while the world is concentrated on fighting SARS-CoV-2, other viruses such as West Nile virus (WNV) attack the communities silently. West Nile Virus (WNV) is established as one of the infectious agents that transmissible blood transfusion. The present study is cross-sectional, conducted in the central blood bank, Khartoum state, Sudan, and aimed to determine WNV IgG antibodies among blood donors. Methods: the antibodies of the IgG class against West Nile virus in the serum were determined using the ELISA technique. Ninety blood donors participated in this study. Results: the results showed that 67(74.4%) of participants had positive IgG for WNV. The majority of positive participants 28/67(41.8%) had an age between 28-37 years followed by an age group 18-27 years 24/67(35.8), the dominant blood group of the positive WNV IgG participants was A+ 26/67 (38.8%) followed by O+ 19/67(28.4%). The result displayed that 40(59.7%) of the positive IgG had donated blood several times and 58 (86.6%) had a blood transfusion. Statistical analysis showed an insignificant association between age group, blood group, blood donation, blood transfusion, and West Nile Virus. Conclusions: the high IgG seroprevalence (which indicated previous infection) in the present study suggests high virus circulation in Sudan. This situation proposed that WNF screening test should be part of blood transfusion screening tests in Sudan. (c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.