Seroprevalence of Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) IgM among Healthy Blood Donors in Eastern Sudan: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a ubiquitous β-herpesvirus that establishes lifelong latency following primary infection, usually acquired during early childhood. Although infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, HHV-6 may pose a transfusion-transmitted risk, particularly for immunocompromised recipients, in whom viral reactivation can lead to severe complications. Data on HHV-6 exposure among Sudanese blood donors are scarce. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HHV-6 IgM antibodies among healthy blood donors in Eastern Sudan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2022 and 2025 among 180 apparently healthy male blood donors attending Kassala Teaching Hospital, Eastern Sudan. Anti-HHV-6 IgM antibodies were detected using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Demographic characteristics and hematological parameters were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28, and associations were assessed using the chi-square test, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: HHV-6 IgM antibodies were detected in 5 out of 180 donors, yielding a seroprevalence of 2.78%. No statistically significant associations were observed between HHV-6 IgM seropositivity and age, region of residence, or ABO/Rh blood groups. Most hematological parameters were comparable between IgM-positive and IgM-negative donors; however, monocyte counts showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.043). Conclusion: The low seroprevalence of HHV-6 IgM suggests limited evidence of recent or active infection among healthy blood donors in this setting. Nevertheless, the low sensitivity of the serological assay used may underestimate the true prevalence. These findings highlight the need for larger, multicenter studies incorporating high-sensitivity molecular techniques to better assess the transfusion-related risk of HHV-6 in Sudan.