Potassium content of irradiated packed red blood cells in different storage media: is there a need for additive solution-dependent recommendations for infant transfusion?

Prevention of transfusion-associated graft versus host disease (TA-GVHD) by gamma irradiation is known to induce increased K+ in supernatant of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) stored in CPDA-1 and SAGM conservative solutions. However, no data exist for PRBCs in AS-3 medium which is considered safe for neonatal transfusion. We evaluated haemolysis and K+ release from irradiated AS-3 PRBCs and compared our results with reported data for SAGM and CPDA-1 PRBCs.

Human anaplasmosis in Belgium: a 10-year seroepidemiological study.

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a tick-borne rickettsial infection of neutrophils caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Although the pathogen was known as a veterinary agent as early as 1932, the link with human disease was first established in 1990. In the past decennium, the involvement of HGA as an important and frequent cause of fever with a history of tick bite was increasingly recognized in many regions of Europe.

Association between habitat and prevalence of hantavirus infections in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus).

In order to determine the habitat preferred by Myodes (before Clethrionomys) glareolus and the corresponding Puumala hantavirus seroprevalence in those habitats, we captured rodents simultaneously in three significantly different habitats. We compared trapping success and presence of virus per habitat during an ongoing epidemic in order to test the hypothesis of a density-dependent seroprevalence. Our study showed that bank vole population density, as well as Puumala virus seroprevalence, were habitat dependent.

Serological and genetic evidence for the presence of Seoul hantavirus in Rattus norvegicus in Flanders, Belgium.

Seoul hantavirus (SEOV), carried by Rattus rattus (black rat) and R. norvegicus (Norway, brown rat), was reported to circulate as well as cause HFRS cases in Asia. As Rattus sp.

Molecular and serological evidence for Anaplasma platys and Babesia sp. infection in a dog, imported in Belgium, from Southern Spain.

This case report describes a dog suffering from a co-infection with Babesia and Anaplasma parasites. Anaplasma platys was found to be responsible for the anaplasmosis by molecular biology techniques, while microscopical and serological evidence was found for a coexistent babesiosis, although this could not be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Moreover, the possible risk of import of exotic pathogens is highlighted.