A pilot serosurvey of <i>Babesia microti</i> in Chinese blood donors

Bloch, Evan M.; Yang, Yi; He, Meiqi; Tonnetti, Laura; Liu, Y.; Wang, J.; Guo, Yu-Hong; Li, H.; Leiby, David A.; Shan, Hua

doi:10.1111/vox.12648

Cited by 13 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In addition, rare cases of TTB have been attributed to other species (e.g., Babesia duncani ) [40] and variant Babesia strains [41]. While Babesia species are globally ubiquitous, findings from the few studies outside of the US that have investigated blood donors have failed to match the scale encountered here [1,42,43,44].…”

Section: Persistent Babesia Microti Infection In Asymptomatic Immumentioning

confidence: 96%

Persistence of Babesia microti Infection in Humans

2019

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Persistent infection is a characteristic feature of babesiosis, a worldwide, emerging tick-borne disease caused by members of the genus Babesia. Persistence of Babesia infection in reservoir hosts increases the probability of survival and transmission of these pathogens. Laboratory tools to detect Babesia in red blood cells include microscopic detection using peripheral blood smears, nucleic acid detection (polymerase chain reaction and transcription mediated amplification), antigen detection, and antibody detection. Babesia microti, the major cause of human babesiosis, can asymptomatically infect immunocompetent individuals for up to two years. Chronically infected blood donors may transmit the pathogen to another person through blood transfusion. Transfusion-transmitted babesiosis causes severe complications and death in about a fifth of cases. Immunocompromised patients, including those with asplenia, HIV/AIDS, malignancy, or on immunosuppressive drugs, often experience severe disease that may relapse up to two years later despite anti-Babesia therapy. Persistent Babesia infection is promoted by Babesia immune evasive strategies and impaired host immune mechanisms. The health burden of persistent and recrudescent babesiosis can be minimized by development of novel therapeutic measures, such as new anti-parasitic drugs or drug combinations, improved anti-parasitic drug duration strategies, or immunoglobulin preparations; and novel preventive approaches, including early detection methods, tick-avoidance, and blood donor screening.

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Section: Persistent Babesia Microti Infection In Asymptomatic Immumentioning

confidence: 96%

Persistence of Babesia microti Infection in Humans

2019

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“…IFA was performed at American Red Cross, Holland laboratory (Rockville, MD) using an approach that has previously been reported[21]. In brief, for the antigen preparation, B .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the increase in tick-borne and TTB in the US has garnered much attention [12, 13], Babesia should be viewed as a global pathogen. Beyond its historical recognition in parts of Europe [14–16], there is a growing number of reports of human babesiosis from areas where Babesia has not been well publicized such as in South America [17], Asia [18–21] and Australia [22]. An expanding repertoire of highly sensitive Babesia diagnostic assays affords opportunity for global surveillance for this neglected pathogen.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Babesia observational antibody (BAOBAB) study: A cross-sectional evaluation of Babesia in two communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania

et al. 2019

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Background Babesia , a tick-borne genus of intraerythrocytic parasites, is understudied in humans outside of established high-endemic areas. There is a paucity of data on Babesia in Africa, despite evidence that it is regionally present. A pilot study suggested that Babesia was present in a rural district of Tanzania. Methodology/Principal findings A cross-sectional study was conducted July-August 2017: residents in a case hamlet that had clustering of subjects with high signal-to-cut off (S/CO) ratios for antibodies against B . microti in the pilot study, and a control hamlet that had lacked significant signal, were evaluated for B . microti . Subjects aged ≥15yrs (n = 299) underwent clinical evaluation and household inspections; 10ml whole blood was drawn for Babesia transcription mediated amplification (TMA), B . microti indirect fluorescent antibody testing (IFA) and rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) for Plasmodium spp. Subjects aged <15yrs (n = 266) underwent a RDT for Plasmodium and assessment by ELISA for B . microti antibodies. A total of 570 subjects participated (mean age 22 [<1 to 90yrs]) of whom 50.7% were female and 145 (25.5%) subjects were Plasmodium RDT positive (+). In those <15yrs, the median ELISA S/CO was 1.11 (IQR 0.80–1.48); the median S/CO in the case (n = 120) and control (n = 146) hamlets was 1.19 (IQR 0.81–1.48) and 1.06 (IQR 0.80–1.50) respectively (p = 0.4). Children ≥5yrs old were more likely to have a higher S/CO ratio than those <5yrs old (p<0.001). One hundred (38%) subjects <15yrs were Plasmodium RDT+. The median S/CO ratio (children <15yrs) did not differ by RDT status (p = 0.15). In subjects ≥15yrs, no molecular test was positive for Babesia , but four subjects (1.4%) were IFA reactive (two each at titers of 128 and 256). Conclusions/Significance The findings offer further support for Babesia in rural Tanzania. However, low prevalence of seroreactivity questions its clinical significance.

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“…May it even be possible that pet dogs play a role in human babesiosis? Firstly, dogs in China and Russia were found to be infected with B. microti by PCR and DNA sequencing [ 69 , 70 ]. Secondly, ticks collected from pet dogs carry B. microti , B. venatorum , and B. divergens [ 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 ].…”

Section: Possible Roles Of the Domestic Dog In Human Babesiosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Human Babesiosis with “Ground Zero” in North America

et al. 2021

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The first case of human babesiosis was reported in the literature in 1957. The clinical disease has sporadically occurred as rare case reports in North America and Europe in the subsequent decades. Since the new millennium, especially in the last decade, many more cases have apparently appeared not only in these regions but also in Asia, South America, and Africa. More than 20,000 cases of human babesiosis have been reported in North America alone. In several cross-sectional surveys, exposure to Babesia spp. has been demonstrated within urban and rural human populations with clinical babesiosis reported in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent humans. This review serves to highlight the widespread distribution of these tick-borne pathogens in humans, their tick vectors in readily accessible environments such as parks and recreational areas, and their phylogenetic relationships.

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A pilot serosurvey of Babesia microti in Chinese blood donors

Abstract: Our preliminary findings support the need for expanded Babesia surveillance in Chinese blood donors, replete with molecular evaluation, to evaluate the risk to the blood supply.

Cited by 13 publications

References 17 publications

Persistence of Babesia microti Infection in Humans

Persistence of Babesia microti Infection in Humans

The Babesia observational antibody (BAOBAB) study: A cross-sectional evaluation of Babesia in two communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania

Emerging Human Babesiosis with “Ground Zero” in North America

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