A set of diagnostic tests for detection of active Babesia duncani infection.

Objectives: Human babesiosis is an emerging and potentially fatal tick-borne disease caused by intraerythrocytic parasites of the Babesia genus. Among these, Babesia duncani is particularly notable for causing severe and life-threatening illness in humans. Accurate diagnosis and effective disease management hinge on the detection of active B.

Deferral of blood donors who have ever stayed in a Trypanosoma cruzi endemic area: An international survey.

Background And Objectives: Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease (CD), an anthropozoonosis from the American continent that progresses from an acute phase to an indeterminate phase, followed by a chronic symptomatic phase in around 30% of patients. In countries where T. cruzi is not endemic, many blood transfusion services test blood donors who have stayed in an endemic country ('at-risk stay')-even if they do not present with other risk factors.

A Set of Diagnostic Tests for Detection of Active Infection.

Unlabelled: Human babesiosis is a rapidly emerging and potentially fatal tick-borne disease caused by intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasites of the genus. Among the various species of that infect humans, has been found to cause severe and life-threatening infections. Detection of active infection is critical for accurate diagnosis and effective management of the disease.

A case of transfusion-transmission Anaplasma phagocytophilum from leukoreduced red blood cells.

Background: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is a tick-borne bacterium and the cause of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA). Here, we report a case of transfusion-transmitted (TT)-HGA involving a leukoreduced (LR) red blood cell (RBC) unit.

Case Report: A 64-year-old woman with gastric adenocarcinoma and multiple myeloma who received weekly blood transfusions developed persistent fevers, hypotension, and shortness of breath 1 week after receiving an RBC transfusion.

Molecular Screening of Blood Donors for in Tyrol, Austria.

Introduction: is a tick-borne intraerythrocytic parasite that is globally ubiquitous, yet understudied. Several species of have been shown to be transfusion-transmissible. has been reported in blood donors, animals, and ticks in the Tyrol (Western Austria), and regional cases of human babesiosis have been described.

Nucleic acid testing for monkeypox in United States blood donor specimens.

Background: The 2022 multi-country outbreak of monkeypox (mpox) resulted in blood collection and public health agencies closely monitoring for changes in transmission dynamics that could pose a threat to the blood supply. While mpox virus (MPXV) is not known to be transfusion transmissible, there have been several studies demonstrating the detection of MPXV in blood. We evaluated the performance characteristics of a research use only (RUO) nucleic acid amplification test for MPXV.

A Longitudinal Study of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Antibody Response in a Subset of United States Blood Donors.

Background: Blood donors were tested for antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); resulting antibody levels were monitored over time.

Methods: Donors reactive to anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S1-total antibodies) participated in a follow-up study of 18 months. Testing for nucleocapsid antibodies distinguished between vaccination and infection.

The impact of ABO and RhD blood types on Babesia microti infection.

Background: Babesiosis is an emerging infectious disease caused by intraerythrocytic Babesia parasites that can cause severe disease and death. While blood type is known to affect the mortality of Plasmodium falciparum malaria patients, associations between red blood cell (RBC) antigens and Babesia microti infection and disease severity are lacking.

Methods: We evaluated RhD and ABO blood types of Babesia-infected (18S rRNA reactive) blood donors in 10 endemic states in the Northeastern and northern Midwestern United States.

Mitigating the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections with vector-borne agents solely by means of pathogen reduction.

Background: This study evaluated whether pathogen reduction technology (PRT) in plasma and platelets using amotosalen/ultraviolet A light (A/UVA) or in red blood cells using amustaline/glutathione (S-303/GSH) may be used as the sole mitigation strategy preventing transfusion-transmitted West Nile (WNV), dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), and chikungunya (CHIKV) viral, and Babesia microti, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Plasmodium parasitic infections.

Methods: Antibody (Ab) status and pathogen loads (copies/mL) were obtained for donations from US blood donors testing nucleic acid (NAT)-positive for WNV, DENV, ZIKV, CHIKV, and B. microti.

Babesia blood testing: the first-year experience.

Background: Babesia is an intraerythrocytic parasite responsible for hundreds of cases of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis in the past 50 years. In May of 2020, blood testing for Babesia was implemented at the American Red Cross (ARC) for all donations in endemic areas of the northeastern and midwestern regions of the United States.

Methods: Between May 2020 and May 2021, 1,816,669 donations from 13 states and DC were tested for Babesia by the ARC.

Preventing Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis.

are tick-borne intra-erythrocytic parasites and the causative agents of babesiosis. , which are readily transfusion transmissible, gained recognition as a major risk to the blood supply, particularly in the United States (US), where is endemic. Many of those infected with remain asymptomatic and parasitemia may persist for months or even years following infection, such that seemingly healthy blood donors are unaware of their infection.

Transcription-mediated amplification blood donation screening for Babesia.

Background: Transfusion-transmitted Babesia microti is well recognized in the Northeast and upper Midwestern United States. Blood donation screening in Babesia-endemic states has occurred under investigational protocols prior to US Food and Drug Administration-licensed test availability. Here, we provide a prospective screening summary of nucleic acid testing (NAT) as part of a multicenter Babesia pivotal trial followed by extended investigational use.

The Babesia observational antibody (BAOBAB) study: A cross-sectional evaluation of Babesia in two communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania.

Background: Babesia, a tick-borne genus of intraerythrocytic parasites, is understudied in humans outside of established high-endemic areas. There is a paucity of data on Babesia in Africa, despite evidence that it is regionally present. A pilot study suggested that Babesia was present in a rural district of Tanzania.

Prevalence of Babesia in Canadian blood donors: June-October 2018.

Background: The erythrocytic protozoan parasite Babesia microti, the cause of human babesiosis, is transmitted not only by tick bites but also via blood transfusion. B. microti is endemic in the northeastern/upper midwestern United States, where partial screening of blood donations has been implemented.

Antibody Titers Reactive With Rickettsia rickettsii in Blood Donors and Implications for Surveillance of Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis in the United States.

Background: Since 2000, the reported prevalence of tick-borne spotted fever rickettsiosis has increased considerably. We compared the level of antibody reactivity among healthy blood donors from 2 widely separated regions of the United States and evaluated the impact of antibody prevalence on public health surveillance in one of these regions.

Methods: Donor serum samples were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay to identify immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies reactive with Rickettsia rickettsii.

Characteristics of transfusion-transmitted Babesia microti, American Red Cross 2010-2017.

Background: Babesia microti, a red blood cell (RBC) parasite transmitted naturally to vertebrate hosts by ixodid ticks, is endemic to the northeastern and upper midwestern United States, with the geographic range of infected ticks expanding. B. microti is a blood safety issue with >200 transfusion-transmissions reported.

The impact of Babesia microti blood donation screening.

Background: Babesia microti, an intraerythrocytic parasite endemic in the Northeast and upper Midwest United States, is responsible for over 200 reported cases of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB). The American Red Cross has prospectively screened donations in endemic areas for B. microti since 2012.

Transfusion-transmitted babesiosis: one state's experience.

Background: The risk for tickborne exposure to Babesia microti infection exists statewide in Massachusetts. Broad exposure complicates investigations of transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB). We summarize 8 years of the epidemiology of TTB and highlight the role of public health in prevention and control.

Inactivation of Babesia microti in red blood cells and platelet concentrates.

Background: With an increasing number of recognized transfusion-transmitted (TT) babesiosis cases, Babesia microti is the most frequently TT parasite in the United States. We evaluated the inactivation of B. microti in red blood cells (RBCs) prepared in Optisol (AS-5) using amustaline and glutathione (GSH) and in platelet components (PCs) in 100% plasma using amotosalen and low-energy ultraviolet A (UVA) light.

Description of 15 DNA-positive and antibody-negative "window-period" blood donations identified during prospective screening for Babesia microti.

Background: Blood donation screening detecting only antibodies fails to identify donors in the earliest stage of infection, before a detectable immunologic response, that is, the "window period" (WP). We present data on WP donations identified during prospective screening for Babesia microti, a transfusion-transmissible parasite of increasing concern in the United States.

Study Design And Methods: Blood donations collected in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and arrayed fluorescence immunoassay (AFIA) to detect B.