Convenience of serum for visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis by PCR.

In this retrospective study, the usefulness of a PCR performed on serum for primary diagnosis and monitoring of Mediterranean visceral leishmaniasis (MVL) was assessed. In the case of primary diagnosis of MVL, the serum PCR showed a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 95%, with positive and negative predictive values of 94 and 97%, respectively.

Occurrence of Leishmania infantum parasitemia in asymptomatic blood donors living in an area of endemicity in southern France.

Visceral leishmaniosis (VL) due to Leishmania infantum (L. chagasi) is a lethal disease if untreated, but asymptomatic L. infantum infections have been reported previously.

[Transfusion and cancer].

Relationship between blood transfusion and cancer is considered from five points of view: 1) The cancer patient as a blood donor. Cancer must remain a cause of exclusion from blood donation. 2) Autologous blood transfusion for cancer patients.