TITLE:
Investigation of Cytomegalovirus Carriage among Blood Donors at the General Hospital of Yaoundé
AUTHORS:
Ahouga Voufo Roger, Abdouraman Bouba, Yimga Wanda Grace, Maboulu Emvoutou Valerie, Cherifa Ngoupatoum, Calixte Didier Mbakop, Ngonde Essome Marie Chantal
KEYWORDS:
Cytomegalovirus, Blood Donors, Carriage
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.3,
March
20,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Cytomegalovirus is a pervasive virus present within the population, transmitted through multiple pathways. This condition is often asymptomatic, leading carriers to remain unaware of their status, which may result in their inclusion among blood donors. This scenario can have significant implications for both the health of the carriers and the recipients. Methods: To investigate the prevalence of cytomegalovirus among blood donors, a prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted over a three-week period from June 12 to June 30, 2023, at the General Hospital of Yaoundé. The study involved 100 donors who met all the criteria for blood donation and provided their free and informed consent. Venous blood samples were drawn from each participant into a dry tube, following strict aseptic, hygiene, and laboratory safety protocols. These samples were then centrifuged at 3000 revolutions per minute for 5 minutes. The resulting serum was utilized to detect IgG antibodies against cytomegalovirus using immuno-chromatography. Data entry was performed using Microsoft Word 2016, and the analysis of results was conducted with Microsoft Excel and IBM SPSS 23, applying a significance level of 0.05. Results: Out of the 100 eligible donors we enlisted, 88% were male and 12% were female, leading to a sex ratio of 7.33. The age cohort of 18 to 28 years was the most prevalent, comprising 69%, with a mean age of 25.36 years ± 5.5 years, and a range from 18 to 53 years. On average, 95% of donors had no knowledge concerning cytomegalovirus. The age range of [18 to 28] years displayed a peak carriage of this virus, with 56% of positive cases, according to the search for anti-cytomegalovirus antibodies. Two categories of donors were found: family members (71%) who carried this antibody 50% of the time, and volunteers (29%), of whom 17% carried this antibody. The occurrence of cytomegalovirus was found to be 67% among blood donors. The number of sexual partners (RR = 1.41), being single (RR = 1.53), and having the virus in the family (RR = 1.50) are some of the risk variables that we found to be associated with the spread of this virus. Conclusion: According to the study’s findings, a considerable amount of cytomegalovirus is carried by General Hospital of Yaoundé (GHY) blood donors, most of whom are not aware of their virological status prior to giving blood. To ensure transfusion safety, we plan to conduct a similar study looking for IgM to propose to public authorities the elimination of blood bags positive for anti-cytomegalovirus IgM.