[Anti-Brucella antibody seroprevalence in blood donors for therapeutic ends at three blood banks of the Mexican Institute of Social Security].

INTRODUCTION

To determine seroprevalence for Brucella sp. in blood donors, a serologic study was carried out at three blood banks of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS).

METHODS

500 blood samples were taken from selected blood donors. Laboratory tests were used, such as Bengal rose (BR), Standard agglutination in microplate (SAM) and in presence of 2-Mercaptoethanol agglutination in microplate (2ME), which were applied to 500 blood sera from selected effective blood donors. The sample was representative according to the statistical analysis developed.

RESULTS

18 of 500 analyzed sera were positive, with seroprevalence of 3.6%, male sex (83.4%), predominating, as secondary activity group (72.2%). According to academic archivement, blood donors with secondary school had highest seropositivity (55.6%).

CONCLUSION

In this study, we conclude that brucellosis has peculiar epidemiologic characteristics in blood banks that participated in this research; therefore it is highly recommended to perform screening tests such as BR, SAM, and 2ME to identified anti-Brucella antibodies in the sera of effective blood donors.