Socio‐epidemiological characterisation of blood donors with asymptomatic Leishmania infantum infection from three Brazilian endemic regions and analysis of the transfusional transmission risk of visceral leishmaniasis

Abstract

The results confirm the high prevalence of L. infantum seropositivity among donors in the three regions; the seroconversion in a short period of time in two of six patients suggests the possibility of transmission of the infection by transfusion.

Identification of Leishmania infantum in blood donors from endemic regions for visceral leishmaniasis

“…This study included 127 individuals eligible for blood donation, with no previous history of VL, selected from 608 blood donors who had participated in a previous study (Ferreira-Silva et al ., 2018). All 127 were selected from four cities in Brazil where the disease is endemic: Fortaleza and Sobral/Ceará (CE), Teresina/Piauí (PI) and Montes Claros/Minas Gerais (MG).…”

“…Studies have reported that the prevalence of asymptomatic infection among blood donors varies between 5 and 15% in different regions of Brazil, one of the seven countries with the highest prevalence of this endemic disease (Luz et al ., 1997; Urias et al ., 2009; França et al ., 2013; Ferreira-Silva et al ., 2018). Moreover, the survival and infectious capacity of L. infantum in stored blood components and transmission records, where transfusion of blood components is the only possible means of transmission, increases the need for measures to ensure maximum safety in transfusions, especially in endemic regions (Grogl et al ., 1993; Cummins et al ., 1995).…”

Leishmaniasis in Transplant Candidates and Recipients: Diagnosis and Management

“…This study followed six previous seronegative patients who received blood components from seropositive donors. Two patients presented seroconversion, and one of them also had a positive PCR after the transfusion of nonleukoreduced packed red blood cells [59]. In this regard, the use of leukodepletion filters (often used with transplant patients) is considered to be an efficient method to reduce the Leishmania transmission hazard and may explain the relatively low rates of transfusion-transmitted leishmaniasis (TTL) [60].…”

Asymptomatic Leishmania infection in blood donors from a major blood bank in Northeastern Brazil: a cross-sectional study

“…Although the risk of L. infantum transmission via blood transfusion is eminent, it remains largely underestimated in most countries. A screening in blood banks of different Brazilian cities (Montes Claros, Fortaleza, and Teresina) reported that among 615 clinically eligible donors, seven (1.1%) were positive in the screening procedure, a rapid immunochromatographic test 10 . Considering the total of 608 eligible donors, 37 (6.1%) were positive to Leshmania spp.…”

“…Furthermore, among 296 patients who were transfused with red blood cells or platelet concentrates from the above-mentioned donors, 23 (7.8%) were seropositive prior to blood transfusion and 13 (4.4%) received blood from positive donors. Six patients were followed-up and two of these six seroconverted between 60 and 90 days after blood transfusion 10 . This study illustrates the tip of the iceberg regarding L. infantum transmission by blood donors in Brazil.…”