Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) Among Male Blood Donors in Kassala, Sudan

Background: Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a latent beta-herpesvirus with potential transfusion-transmissible relevance, particularly in immunocompromised recipients. Data on HHV-6 viremia among Sudanese blood donors are extremely limited. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of HHV-6 DNA among blood donors in Kassala, Sudan. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Kassala Teaching Hospital. Whole-blood samples (n = 180) were screened for HHV-6 DNA using real-time PCR, followed by multiplex PCR for genotyping attempts. Fisher’s exact and Mann–Whitney U tests were used where applicable; however, statistical analyses were interpreted cautiously due to the small number of positive cases. Results: HHV-6 DNA was detected in 2.78% (5/180) of donors. No significant associations were found between HHV-6 positivity and age group, region, or ABO/Rh blood groups. Hematological parameters showed no significant differences between HHV-6–positive and negative donors. Genotyping was unsuccessful for all positive samples, likely due to low viral load (Ct values 38.7–39.9). Conclusion: HHV-6 viremia was infrequent among blood donors in Kassala. Given the very small number of positive cases and limited genotyping capacity, the findings should be considered preliminary. Larger multicenter studies incorporating more sensitive molecular methods are recommended to characterize the epidemiology of HHV-6 in Sudan.