Detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy blood donors in Tehran Regional Educational Blood Transfusion Centre

Abstract

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common pathogen in the world often causing upper or lower respiratory tract infection and may also be linked to some chronic inflammatory diseases. Recent studies have shown that a high percentage of healthy blood donors harbour Chlamydia DNA and antigens. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of this microorganism among blood donors. Blood samples were collected between November 2004 and March 2005 from 196 healthy blood donors. Ten millilitre of blood was collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) tube. Reverse transcription of RNA was performed with Moloney murine leukaemia virus (MMLV) reverse transcriptase and random primers hexamer. Polymerase chain reaction products were evaluated by electrophoresis. Data were analysed using the chi(2) test and t-test. Of the 196 healthy blood donors, 7.1% were C. pneumoniae DNA positive (CI 95 % = 3.51- 10.69), which is slightly higher in female (8.5%) than male (6.5%) donors; this difference was not found to be significant (P = 0.4). The average age of study groups was 40.84 (SD +/- 10.80) years; significant association was not found between age groups and the presence of C. pneumoniae DNA. There was no significant differences between positive rate and first-time [37 (19.3%)] and repeat [155 (80.7%)] donors. C. pneumoniae DNA seems to be frequent in apparently healthy blood donors; therefore, it can be a threat for blood safety. But further studies are needed to evaluate the survival of C. pneumoniae in blood bank conditions and in blood recipients to define the clinical importance of such findings. Elimination of intracellular bacteria by filtration is an effective strategy for risk reduction.

An Experimental Model for Induction of Lung Cancer in Rats by Chlamydia Pneumoniae

“…Chronic Cpn infection is a risk factor of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Zhou et al, 2011). Recent studies have shown that a high percentage of healthy blood donors harbor Chlamydia DNA and antigens (Karimi et al, 2010). Higher Cpn infection rates have been observed in the general population.…”

Transfusion‐related Epstein‐Barr virus infection among stem cell transplant recipients: a retrospective cohort study in children

“…These include hepatitis B and C viruses, human immunodeficiency virus, human T‐cell leukemia virus, syphilis, West Nile virus, Chagas disease ( Trypanosoma cruzi ), and on selected units, cytomegalovirus (CMV/human herpesvirus‐5) 1‐3 . Thus, while transmission of these infections via transfusion has become exceedingly rare, the risk of transfusion‐transmitted infections for which testing is not currently performed continues to be a concern 4‐8 . Among these untested infectious agents is Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV, also known as human herpesvirus‐4), which in immunocompromised patients, can induce lymphoproliferative disease, a potentially fatal cancer 9‐12 …”

The Diagnostic Potential of the Human Blood Microbiome: Are We Dreaming or Awake?

“…Most bacterial DNA was detected in the blood buffy coat in healthy individuals [ 27 ]. In a significant percentage of healthy donors, PBMC phylum Chlamydiae species Chlamydophila pneumoniae , a human obligate intracellular parasite bacterium and etiologic agent of an atypical pneumonia form [ 55 ], was detected ( Table 2 ). Chlamydiae are known for their unique biphasic life cycle, during which they alternate between two morphological forms: infectious extracellular elementary bodies (EBs) transform into metabolically active intracellular reticulate bodies (RBs) after entering the host cell [ 12 ].…”