Background: Bartonella spp. can cause a variety of diseases, such as lymphadenopathies, cat scratch disease, and trench fever, but can also give rise to many non-specific symptoms. No data exists regarding the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in patients with musculoskeletal complaints, nor among blood donors in Poland.
Methods: The presence of anti-Bartonella IgM and IgG in the serum of blood donors (n = 65) (Lodz, Poland) and in the patients of the Department of Rheumatology Clinic (n = 40) suffering from musculoskeletal symptoms was tested by immunofluorescence. Blood samples were cultured on enriched media. Epidemiological questionnaires were used to identify key potential risk factors, such as sex, age, contact with companion animals, and bites from insects or animals.
Results: Altogether, 27 of the 105 tested subjects were seropositive for Bartonella henselae IgG (23%) and three for Bartonella quintana IgG (2.85%); IgMs against B. henselae were found in three individuals (2.85%), and IgMs against B. quintana were found in one (1.54%). No statistically significant difference was found between the prevalence of B. henselae in the blood of donors or patients and the presence of unexplained musculoskeletal complaints (23% vs 30%). Individuals who had kept or been scratched by cats were not more likely to be B. henselae seropositive (p > 0.01). Tick bites were more commonly reported in patients, but insignificantly (p > 0.01).
Conclusion: This is the first report of a high seroprevalence of anti-Bartonella IgG in patients with musculoskeletal symptoms and in blood donors in Poland. The obtained results indicate that such seroprevalence may have a possible significance in the development of musculoskeletal symptoms, although it should be confirmed on a larger group of patients. Asymptomatic bacteremia might occur and pose a threat to recipients of blood from infected donors. Hence, there is a need for more detailed research, including molecular biology methods, to clarify the potential risk of Bartonella spp. being spread to immunocompromised individuals.
Key Points: • This is the first study presenting high seroprevalence of Bartonella spp. in Poland. • IgG and IgM antibodies against B. quintana were found in blood samples of blood donors.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10067-019-04591-5 | DOI Listing |
Asian J Transfus Sci
September 2022
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Sardar Bhagwan Singh University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
Blood is a life saver in many emergencies like accidents or for the patients suffering from deadly diseases such as cancer and thalassemia. Conventionally, blood collection is done in five steps, i.e.
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November 2023
Department of Transfusion Medicine, Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Background: Examples of group B red cells that react weakly or not at all with anti-B have been described. Subgroups of B such as B, B, B, and B are rare and are less frequently reported. We studied the frequency of subgroups of B in our healthy blood donor population and serologically characterized and differentiated these subgroups.
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August 2024
Department of Transfusion Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Introduction: Hemoglobin (Hb) estimation in blood donors is conducted using capillary samples on portable hemoglobinometers, representing measurement methods in practice. The reference standard is conducted using a venous sample on a hematology analyzer, representing the mentor measurement method or the true value. The correction involves the calculation of the secondary adjustment factor (SAF) to mitigate the difference between the two values.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAsian J Transfus Sci
December 2022
Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
Background: Thalassemia is one of the most common congenital hemoglobinopathies globally. Regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is of paramount importance in the treatment of thalassemia patients. However, this practice increases the risk of alloimmunization.
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September 2022
Department of Physiology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Puducherry, India.
Vasovagal syncope (VVS) in donors is a transient loss of consciousness due to short-term global cerebral hypoperfusion, which has a rapid onset and has complete spontaneous recovery. VVS may be triggered by pain, fear, anxiety, or emotional upset and loss of blood perse. It is an exaggeration of an adaptive response meant to assist in reducing the amount of bleeding/loss of blood.
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