Declining Towards Zero Trend of Syphilis Among Blood Donors: A Sero-Epidemiological Study

Introduction: Syphilis is sexually transmitted and blood borne disease caused by Treponemapallidum. After invention of Pencillin, there was rapid decline in number of syphilis. Objective: To study the seroprevalence of syphilis among blood donors with respect to type of donor, age, sex, and blood group of the donor. Methodology: This study was conducted from 1st January 2005 to 31stDecember 2009 at blood bank of SSIMRC Davanagere. Blood units were collected from eligible donors and were screened for syphilis by VDRL method. Prevalence of syphilis was calculated by using SSPS version 13 statistical package in relation to type of donor, age, sex and blood group of donor. The significance of trend was determined by chi square test. Result: A total of 19410 donors was screened. Two cases (0.01%) of syphilis were serologically identified. The trend of syphilis was declined to zero from the year 2005 to 2009. The association of seropositivity of syphilis with replacement donor was significant(p value 0.04). Keywords: Seropositivity; Syphilis; Blood donors; Replacement; Blood safety