The impact of babesiosis on transfusion medicine

Pantanowitz, Liron; Telford, Sam R.; Cannon, Marie E.

doi:10.1053/tmrv.2002.31462

Cited by 29 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…The implicated donor was a summer resident of Nantucket Island who was asymptomatic at the time of blood transfusion. Since that initial report, TTB has been reported with increasing frequency, and current estimates suggest that between 70 and 100 cases have occurred (41,76,95). Determining an accurate estimate is difficult, since many cases of TTB have not been reported in an organized way or were not novel enough to warrant consideration for publication (76).…”

Section: Case Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the intraerythrocytic niche occupied by Babesia parasites suggests that leukoreduction will have little to no impact on preventing this parasite's transmission. Infact, transfusion cases that involved leukoreduced blood products have been reported routinely (95,118). Similarly, gamma irradiation likely has a minimal impact on the infectivity of Babesia, as transfusion cases implicating irradiated blood products were reported previously (82).…”

Section: Other Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For those TTB cases where a specific blood component has been implicated, the vast majority of cases have identified a unit of packed red blood cells (RBCs) as the source of Babesia infection (4,41,95,118). Several transmission cases, however, have also implicated platelet products derived from whole blood, which presumably contains either contaminating red cells infected with the parasite or extracellular B. microti.…”

Section: Case Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(i.e., malaria parasites), it is critical to distinguish these two parasitic infections; however, only highly trained and experienced microscopists will likely discern a visual difference. The presence of tetrads or "Maltese cross" forms within erythrocytes is diagnostic for Babesia infection, although they have been reported to be an uncommon feature of infections with B. microti (95). Thus, serological or molecular testing may be needed to differentiate the infection from malaria and to identify the infecting species of Babesia.…”

Section: Diagnostic Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transfusion-TransmittedBabesiaspp.: Bull's-Eye onBabesia microti

2011

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SUMMARY Babesia spp. are intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites of animals and humans that cause babesiosis, a zoonotic disease transmitted primarily by tick vectors. Although a variety of species or types of Babesia have been described in the literature as causing infection in humans, the rodent parasite Babesia microti has emerged as the focal point of human disease, especially in the United States. Not only has B. microti become established as a public health concern, this agent is increasingly being transmitted by blood transfusion: estimates suggest that between 70 and 100 cases of transfusion-transmitted Babesia (TTB) have occurred over the last 30 years. A recent upsurge in TTB cases attributable to B. microti , coupled with at least 12 fatalities in transfusion recipients diagnosed with babesiosis, has elevated TTB to a key policy issue in transfusion medicine. Despite clarity on a need to mitigate transmission risk, few options are currently available to prevent the transmission of B. microti by blood transfusion. Future mitigation efforts may stress serological screening of blood donors in regionalized areas of endemicity, with adjunct nucleic acid testing during the summer months, when acute infections are prevalent. However, several hurdles remain, including the absence of a licensed blood screening assay and a thorough cost-benefit analysis of proposed interventions. Despite current obstacles, continued discussion of TTB without proactive intervention is no longer a viable alternative.

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Section: Case Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Other Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Case Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Diagnostic Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transfusion-TransmittedBabesiaspp.: Bull's-Eye onBabesia microti

2011

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“…The primary tick vector of the species is I. scapularis and the main reservoir in the northeastern United States of America is the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) . Humans are believed to be accidental hosts and while tick bites are the main risk for transmission, there have been several cases of transfusion-acquired babesiosis in the United States of America (Pantanowitz et al 2002). Both I. scapularis and reservoirs such as P. leucopus have been identified in areas of southern Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.…”

Section: Babesiosismentioning

confidence: 99%