Transmission of Parasites by Blood Transfusion

• Published in: Vox sanguinis Vol. 74; no. S2; pp. 161 - 163
• Main Author: Dodd, R.Y.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-06-1998; Blackwell; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Animals; Babesia; Babesiosis - epidemiology; Babesiosis - prevention & control; Babesiosis - transmission; Biological and medical sciences; Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis; Chagas Disease - epidemiology; Chagas Disease - prevention & control; Chagas Disease - transmission; Global Health; Humans; Leishmania; Malaria - epidemiology; Malaria - prevention & control; Malaria - transmission; Medical sciences; Parasitemia - diagnosis; Parasitic Diseases - blood; Parasitic Diseases - epidemiology; Parasitic Diseases - prevention & control; Parasitic Diseases - transmission; Safety; Serologic Tests; Transfusion Reaction; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy; Infection; Human; Biological fluid; Transfusion; Complication; Parasitosis; Transmission from man to man; Contamination; Blood
• ISSN: 0042-9007; 1423-0410
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1998.tb05415.x

A number of parasitic diseases are known, or suspected to be transmitted by blood transfusion. Of greatest concern are malaria and Chagas' disease, but babesia, leishmania and toxoplasmosis also offer risk in particular locations or circumstances. Some of these parasites may be imported into non‐endemic areas as a result of population movements and in some cases, the natural range of the parasite is increasing as a result of environmental change. Recent research, particularly on Chagas disease and babesiosis will be discussed, along with measures to minimize transmission of these and other parasites via transfusion.