6533b852fe1ef96bd12aa4a8
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Asymptomatic Leishmania infantum/chagasi infection in blood donors of western Sicily.
Francesco OcchipintiValentina Li VecchiSalvatore GiordanoStefano RealeFrancesco ScarlataLaura InfurnariFabrizio VitaleLucina TitoneLaura Saporitosubject
AdultMaleBlood transfusionSettore MED/17 - Malattie Infettivemedicine.medical_treatmentAntibodies ProtozoanBlood DonorsParasitemiaSettore MED/42 - Igiene Generale E Applicatalaw.inventionlawparasitic diseasesmedicineAnimalsHumansLeishmania infantumLeishmania blood donors asympthomatic infectionPolymerase chain reactionbiologyPublic Health Environmental and Occupational HealthGeneral MedicineLeishmania chagasiDNA ProtozoanMiddle Agedmedicine.diseasebiology.organism_classificationLeishmaniaInfectious DiseasesVisceral leishmaniasisItalyImmunologyCarrier Statebiology.proteinLeishmaniasis VisceralParasitologyFemaleAntibodyLeishmania infantumdescription
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the risk of transfusion-transmitted visceral leishmaniasis was present in an area of western Sicily where the incidence of the disease is higher than the regional average. From May to December 2005, 1449 blood donors from Agrigento district (Sicily, Italy) were screened for the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies by an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Blood samples from IFAT-positive donors were examined by PCR to detect Leishmania DNA. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were found in 11 (0.75%) cases, among which Leishmania DNA was detected from four (36.4%). Particular techniques to inactivate different pathogens would be considered mandatory in the case of immunosuppressed recipients.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-06-14 | Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene |