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Moreno Peniche B. The Politics of (Non)endemicity: Chagas Disease in the United States. Med Anthropol 2021; 40:497-510. [PMID: 34121533 DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2021.1933483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease (CD) is a vector-borne parasitic disease endemic to Latin America. The US has established populations of vectors, parasites, and animal hosts, but because of the low frequency of locally acquired human infections CD is not classified as endemic there. I present a narrative review of the literature of autochthonous cases of CD in the US and analyze it with a co-productionist framework focused on material politics. I underscore the need for an ethnographic approach to the category of endemicity as not only an issue of knowledge and evidence but also as a practiced condition infused with power.
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Hematologic Aspects of Parasitic Diseases. Hematology 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-35762-3.00158-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
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Traina M, Meymandi S, Bradfield JS. Heart Failure Secondary to Chagas Disease: an Emerging Problem in Non-endemic Areas. Curr Heart Fail Rep 2017; 13:295-301. [PMID: 27807757 DOI: 10.1007/s11897-016-0305-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease affects millions of people worldwide. Though the majority of infected individuals remain asymptomatic, approximately 30 % of patients progress to develop cardiac manifestations and eventual heart failure. While vectorial transmission occurs predominantly in South America, Central America, and Mexico, millions of people originally from these endemic regions immigrate to non-endemic countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. Outside of rare specialized centers, health-care providers lack experience diagnosing and treating this disease. This lack of experience likely leads to far fewer Chagas disease patients being diagnosed than what actually exist in non-endemic countries, with subsequent adverse effect on patient outcomes and health-care expenses. Underdiagnosis increases the risk of developing cardiomyopathy, associated heart failure, and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias as the disease progresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Traina
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, 14445 Olive View Dr., Sylmar, CA, 91342, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Heart and Vascular Institute, PO Box 112412, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Sheba Meymandi
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, 14445 Olive View Dr., Sylmar, CA, 91342, USA
| | - Jason S Bradfield
- Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease, Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, 14445 Olive View Dr., Sylmar, CA, 91342, USA.
- UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 100 Medical Plaza, Suite 660, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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Leiby DA, Nguyen ML, Proctor MC, Townsend RL, Stramer SL. Frequency of Trypanosoma cruzi parasitemia among infected blood donors with a potential association between parasite lineage and transfusion transmission. Transfusion 2017; 57:1426-1432. [PMID: 28295355 DOI: 10.1111/trf.14082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi is endemic to the Americas where it demonstrates multiple lineages over a vast geographic range (i.e., United States to Argentina). These lineages possess divergent geographic and biologic characteristics, including variations in disease manifestations. Herein, we report the frequency of parasitemia among seropositive US blood donors and the potential association between parasite lineage and transfusion transmission. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Blood donors identified as T. cruzi seropositive during screening were enrolled in follow-up studies, including hemoculture testing and a risk factor questionnaire. Positive hemocultures were expanded to obtain sufficient parasites for molecular lineage determination and analysis. Country of birth, obtained from the questionnaire, was used to predict parasite lineage in the absence of demonstrable parasitemia for infected donors. RESULTS Eighteen (6.8%) of 263 seropositive donors were hemoculture positive. Among the 17 hemocultures expanded for lineage determination, TcV was identified more frequently (n = 12), compared to TcI (n = 2), TcII (n = 1), and TcVI (n = 2). When presumptive parasite lineages were compared to hemoculture results, only two of 157 (1.3%) TcI versus 13 of 38 (34.2%) TcII/TcV/TcVI non-US donors were parasitemic; three of 44 (6.8%) US donors were TcV or TcVI. CONCLUSIONS Based on lineage determination for donors with parasitemia; hemoculture positivity associated with presumptive parasite lineage; and implicated donors from US, Canadian, and Spanish transfusion cases, donors from Southern South America are significantly more likely to have parasitemia and transmit infection to blood recipients (TcII, TcV, or TcVI vs. TcI). Thus, parasite lineage may be associated with risk of transfusion-transmitted T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Leiby
- Transmissible Diseases Department, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Megan L Nguyen
- Transmissible Diseases Department, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Melanie C Proctor
- Transmissible Diseases Department, American Red Cross Holland Laboratory, Rockville, Maryland
| | | | - Susan L Stramer
- Scientific Support Office, American Red Cross, Gaithersburg, Maryland
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Garcia MN, Woc-Colburn L, Aguilar D, Hotez PJ, Murray KO. Historical Perspectives on the Epidemiology of Human Chagas Disease in Texas and Recommendations for Enhanced Understanding of Clinical Chagas Disease in the Southern United States. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003981. [PMID: 26540273 PMCID: PMC4634991 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection) has recently been identified as an important neglected tropical disease in the United States. Anecdotally referred to as a "silent killer," it leads to the development of potentially fatal cardiac disease in approximately 30% of those infected. In an attempt to better understand the potential of Chagas disease as a significant underlying cause of morbidity in Texas, we performed a historical literature review to assess disease burden. Human reports of triatomine bites and disease exposure were found to be prevalent in Texas. Despite current beliefs that Chagas disease is a recently emerging disease, we report historical references dating as far back as 1935. Both imported cases and autochthonous transmission contribute to the historical disease burden in Texas. We end by discussing the current knowledge gaps, and recommend priorities for advancing further epidemiologic studies and their policy implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa N. Garcia
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Laila Woc-Colburn
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - David Aguilar
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kristy O. Murray
- Department of Pediatrics, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Howard EJ, Xiong X, Carlier Y, Sosa-Estani S, Buekens P. Frequency of the congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG 2014; 121:22-33. [PMID: 23924273 PMCID: PMC3914719 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.12396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is endemic in much of Latin America. With increased globalisation and immigration, it is a risk in any country, partly through congenital transmission. The frequency of congenital transmission is unclear. OBJECTIVE To assess the frequency of congenital transmission of T. cruzi. SEARCH STRATEGY PubMed, Journals@Ovid Full Text, EMBASE, CINAHL, Fuente Academica and BIREME databases were searched using seven search terms related to Chagas disease or T. cruzi and congenital transmission. SELECTION CRITERIA The inclusion criteria were the following: Dutch, English, French, Portuguese or Spanish language; case report, case series or observational study; original data on congenital T. cruzi infection in humans; congenital infection rate reported or it could be derived. This systematic review included 13 case reports/series and 51 observational studies. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two investigators independently collected data on study characteristics, diagnosis and congenital infection rate. The principal summary measure--the congenital transmission rate--is defined as the number of congenitally infected infants divided by the number of infants born to infected mothers. A random effects model was used. MAIN RESULTS The pooled congenital transmission rate was 4.7% (95% confidence interval: 3.9-5.6%). Countries where T. cruzi is endemic had a higher rate of congenital transmission compared with countries where it is not endemic (5.0% versus 2.7%). CONCLUSIONS Congenital transmission of Chagas disease is a global problem. Overall risk of congenital infection in infants born to infected mothers is about 5%. The congenital mode of transmission requires targeted screening to prevent future cases of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J. Howard
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2000, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Xu Xiong
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2022, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Yves Carlier
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Faculté de Médecine (CP 616), Route de Lennik 808, B-1070 Bruxelles, Belgium
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St., Suite 2210, New Orleans, LA 70112
| | - Sergio Sosa-Estani
- National Institute of Parasitology "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben" Av. Paseo Colón 568, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pierre Buekens
- Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2430, New Orleans, LA 70112
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O'Brien SF, Scalia V, Goldman M, Fan W, Yi QL, Huang M, Ndao M, Fearon MA. Evaluation of selective screening of donors for antibody to Trypanosoma cruzi: seroprevalence of donors who answer "no" to risk questions. Transfusion 2013; 54:863-9. [PMID: 23614476 DOI: 10.1111/trf.12219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Revised: 03/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Selective testing of donors for Trypanosoma cruzi infection relies on identification of at-risk donors with screening questions. Using risk modeling and a seroprevalence study, we evaluated the risk of questions failing to identify T. cruzi antibody-positive donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS The rate of donors with unreported risk was estimated by a telephone survey of 2677 donors who answered "no" to risk questions. The number of T. cruzi antibody-positive donors missed by risk questions was estimated from the product of this rate and the selective testing T. cruzi antibody-positive rate. The 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated by Monte Carlo simulation. To test the model, 60,132 donors were tested for T. cruzi antibody (26% of donors in selected regions, Phase I). In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the highest-risk region, 26,915 donors were tested (92.5% of donors, Phase II). RESULTS In the telephone survey, 21 (0.8%) donors reported risk factors that would have identified them for selective testing. Seven were born in Mexico or Central or South America, five had travel risk, and nine had mother or maternal grandmother risk. The 95% CI for predicted number of T. cruzi antibody-positive donors answering "no" to risk questions was 0.71 to 4.38. In Phase I, one Winnipeg donor confirmed positive but had answered risk questions correctly. No other positive donations were identified. CONCLUSION The estimated risk of T. cruzi-positive donors who answer "no" to risk questions is low and is confirmed by the seroprevalence among these donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F O'Brien
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Epidemiology & Community Medicine, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; National Reference Center for Parasitology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Central and South America. Initial infection and ensuing chronic infection often go undetected in the human host. High seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection is well documented in endemic areas. Designated as “a neglected tropical disease” by the World Health Organization, rural economically disadvantaged and marginalized populations in endemic countries traditionally have the highest rates of infection. As economic hardship, political instability, and the search for opportunity spur migration of infected humans from endemic to non-endemic areas of the world, blood bank data have documented rising seroprevalence of T. cruzi in traditionally nonendemic areas. In these areas, T. cruzi is transmitted through blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and maternal-fetal mechanisms. Increasing awareness of large numbers of infected immigrants in nonendemic countries, and the medical care they require, has focused attention on the need for strategic programs for screening affected populations, education of healthcare providers, and provision of necessary medical services for those infected. Physicians in nonendemic countries should be able to recognize signs and symptoms of acute and chronic Chagas disease as migration and globalization increase the burden of disease in non-endemic areas.
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Lima LMD, Alves NP, Barbosa VDF, Pimenta GA, Moraes-Souza H, Martins PRJ. Prevalence of Chagas disease in blood donors at the Uberaba Regional Blood Center, Brazil, from 1995 to 2009. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2012; 45:723-6. [DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86822012000600013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2011] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the occurrence of blood donations that were ineligible due to Chagas disease infection from 1995 to 2009 at the Uberaba Regional Blood Center (HRU), Brazil, verify the tendency of this ineligibility, and describe the epidemiologic profile of the donors. METHODS: Retrospective studies of serological ineligibility due to Chagas disease, statistical analysis by means of the chi-square test and odds ratio, study of the tendencies using a dispersion graph and the linear correlation coefficient (r) were performed. RESULTS: In the period under study, a 0.2% serum prevalence of ineligibility due to Chagas disease was found, with a significant drop in ineligible donations from 2001 to 2009. Among the serum positive-donors, there was a significant predominance among those aged 30 years or above and non-single individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The results show a rate of occurrence that is lower than that described in literature, as well as a progressive drop during the 15 years under assessment. Such results are a consequence of systematic combat of the vector since the 70s and the progressive and consistent increase of returning donors, resulting in a drop of the contamination risk factor by means of blood transfusion and in the improvement of the quality of hemotherapy practices in the HRU.
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O'Brien SF, Scalia V, Goldman M, Fan W, Yi QL, Dines IR, Huang M, Ndao M, Fearon MA. Selective testing forTrypanosoma cruzi: the first year after implementation at Canadian Blood Services. Transfusion 2012; 53:1706-13. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2012.03950.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Revised: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Benjamin RJ, Stramer SL, Leiby DA, Dodd RY, Fearon M, Castro E. Trypanosoma cruzi infection in North America and Spain: evidence in support of transfusion transmission. Transfusion 2012; 52:1913-21; quiz 1912. [PMID: 22321142 DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2011.03554.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The United States, Canada, and Spain perform selective testing of blood donors for Trypanosoma cruzi infection (Chagas disease) to prevent transfusion transmission. The donor, product, and patient characteristics associated with transfusion-transmitted infections are reviewed and the infectivity of components from donors with serologic evidence of infection is estimated. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS A systematic review of transfusion-transmitted T. cruzi cases and recipient tracing undertaken in North America and Spain is described. Cases were assessed for the imputability of the evidence for transfusion transmission. RESULTS T. cruzi infection in 20 transfusion recipients was linked to 18 serologically confirmed donors between 1987 and 2011, including 11 identified only by recipient tracing. Cases were geographically widely distributed and were not associated with incident or autochthonous infections. Index clinical cases were described only in immunocompromised patients. All definite transmissions (n = 11) implicated apheresis or whole blood-derived platelets (PLTs), including leukoreduced and irradiated products. There is no evidence of transmission by red blood cells (RBCs) or frozen products, while transmission by whole blood transfusion remains a possibility. Recipient tracing reveals low component infectivity from serologically confirmed, infected donors of 1.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7%-3.5%) overall: 13.3% (95% CI, 5.6%-25.7%) for PLTs, 0.0% (95% CI, 0.0%-1.5%) for RBCs, and 0.0% (95% CI, 0%-3.7%) for plasma and cryoprecipitate. CONCLUSIONS T. cruzi is transmitted by PLT components from some donors with serologic evidence of infection. Evidence of transmission before the implementation of widespread testing in the countries studied is sparse, and selective testing of only PLT and fresh whole blood donations should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Benjamin
- American Red Cross Holland Laboratories, Rockville, Maryland 20855, USA.
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Carlier Y, Truyens C, Deloron P, Peyron F. Congenital parasitic infections: a review. Acta Trop 2012; 121:55-70. [PMID: 22085916 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2011.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2011] [Revised: 10/27/2011] [Accepted: 10/29/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This review defines the concepts of maternal-fetal (congenital) and vertical transmissions (mother-to-child) of pathogens and specifies the human parasites susceptible to be congenitally transferred. It highlights the epidemiological features of this transmission mode for the three main congenital parasitic infections due to Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi and Plasmodium sp. Information on the possible maternal-fetal routes of transmission, the placental responses to infection and timing of parasite transmission are synthesized and compared. The factors susceptible to be involved in parasite transmission and development of congenital parasitic diseases, such as the parasite genotypes, the maternal co-infections and parasitic load, the immunological features of pregnant women and the capacity of some fetuses/neonates to overcome their immunological immaturity to mount an immune response against the transmitted parasites are also discussed and compared. Analysis of clinical data indicates that parasitic congenital infections are often asymptomatic, whereas symptomatic newborns generally display non-specific symptoms. The long-term consequences of congenital infections are also mentioned, such as the imprinting of neonatal immune system and the possible trans-generational transmission. The detection of infection in pregnant women is mainly based on standard serological or parasitological investigations. Amniocentesis and cordocentesis can be used for the detection of some fetal infections. The neonatal infection can be assessed using parasitological, molecular or immunological methods; the place of PCR in such neonatal diagnosis is discussed. When such laboratory diagnosis is not possible at birth or in the first weeks of life, standard serological investigations can also be performed 8-10 months after birth, to avoid detection of maternal transmitted antibodies. The specific aspects of treatment of T. gondii, T. cruzi and Plasmodium congenital infections are mentioned. The possibilities of primary and secondary prophylaxes, as well as the available WHO corresponding recommendations are also presented.
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Moraes-Souza H, Ferreira-Silva MM. [Control of transfusional transmission]. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2011; 44 Suppl 2:64-7. [PMID: 21584359 DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86822011000800010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The high prevalence of chagasic blood donors in blood centers in Brazil (6.9%) and in Latin America (6.5%) in the 60's and 70's, together with the combat to the vector since the 70's have made transfusion Chagas disease the main mechanism of the disease transmission in the 80's. However, the highly favorable results achieved to eliminate the vector and the serologic screening of blood donors, reduced the prevalence of serum positivity to 0.2% and 1.3%, respectively and the rate of annual transmission through blood transfusion from 20.000 to 13 in four decades in Brazil. Nevertheless, despite outstanding advancements in endemic countries, Chagas disease reached, via migration, non-endemic countries in North America and Europe besides Japan and Australia, placing their blood recipients at risk and turning Chagas disease into a worldwide health problem. Transfusion safety through serologic selection raised another big issue i.e. high proportion of inconclusive reactions as well as two great challenges: the meaning of such exams and what guidelines to provide the donor. However, the strategies adopted by non-endemic countries and the advancements achieved by endemics so far forecast the highly wished vector and transfusion control of Chagas disease.
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O'Brien SF, Zou S, Laperche S, Brant LJ, Seed CR, Kleinman SH. Surveillance of transfusion-transmissible infections comparison of systems in five developed countries. Transfus Med Rev 2011; 26:38-57. [PMID: 21944935 PMCID: PMC7134890 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmrv.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Most industrialized countries maintain surveillance programs for monitoring transmissible infection in blood donations, revising approaches to methodology and risk assessment as new threats emerge. A comparison of programs in the United States, Canada, France, the UK, and Australia indicates that they have similar function, although the structure of blood programs vary as does the extent and nature of formal ties with public health. The emergence of HIV in the late 1970s and early 1980s was key in recognizing that surveillance systems specific to blood transfusion were essential. Hence, most industrialized countries monitor transfusion-transmissible infections in donors and evaluate the impact of new testing and of predonation screening strategies. Emerging infections since HIV have had different transmission pathways and challenged blood programs to draw upon resources for a rapid and effective response, with recognition that the original focus on sexual/drug-related risk of HIV and hepatitis was inadequate. The focus of surveillance programs on new and emerging pathogens fulfills a key role in risk assessment and policy formulation. The precise nature of such activities varies by country because of the structure of the blood programs and surveillance systems, the strategic focus of the blood programs, and the epidemiology of disease in each country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F O'Brien
- National Epidemiology and Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1G 4J5. sheila.o'
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Verani JR, Montgomery SP, Schulkin J, Anderson B, Jones JL. Survey of obstetrician-gynecologists in the United States about Chagas disease. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2010; 83:891-5. [PMID: 20889886 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.09-0543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease affects an estimated 300,000 people in the United States, and as many as 300 congenital infections are estimated to occur annually. The level of knowledge about Chagas disease among obstetricians-gynecologists in the United States has not been assessed. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists surveyed a representative sample of 1,000 members about Chagas disease. Among 421 respondents, 68.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 63.5-72.6) described their knowledge level about Chagas disease as "very limited." Only 8.8% (95% CI = 6.2-12.0) knew the risk of congenital infection, and 7.4% (95% CI = 5.1-10.4) were aware that both acute and chronic maternal infections can lead to congenital transmission. The majority of respondents (77.9%; 95% CI = 73.5-81.9) reported "never" considering a diagnosis of Chagas disease among their patients from endemic countries. Most of those who did consider the diagnosis did so "rarely." Knowledge of Chagas disease among obstetricians-gynecologists in the United States is limited. Greater awareness may help to detect treatable congenital Chagas cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Verani
- Division of Parasitic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.
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Schmunis GA, Yadon ZE. Chagas disease: a Latin American health problem becoming a world health problem. Acta Trop 2010; 115:14-21. [PMID: 19932071 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 537] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2009] [Revised: 11/13/2009] [Accepted: 11/16/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Political repression and/or economic stagnation stimulated the flow of migration from the 17 Latin American countries endemic for Chagas disease to developed countries. Because of this migration, Chagas disease, an autochthonous disease of the Continental Western Hemisphere is becoming a global health problem. In 2006, 3.8% of the 80,522 immigrants from those 17 countries to Australia were likely infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. In Canada in 2006, 3.5% of the 156,960 immigrants from Latin America whose country of origin was identified were estimated to have been infected. In Japan in 2007, there were 80,912 immigrants from Brazil, 15,281 from Peru, and 19,413 from other South American countries whose country of origin was not identified, a portion of whom may have been also infected. In 15 countries of Europe in 2005, excluding Spain, 2.9% of the 483,074 legal Latin American immigrants were estimated to be infected with T. cruzi. By 2008, Spain had received 1,678,711 immigrants from Latin American endemic countries; of these, 5.2% were potentially infected with T. cruzi and 17,390 may develop Chagas disease. Further, it was estimated that 24-92 newborns delivered by South American T. cruzi infected mothers in Spain may have been congenitally infected with T. cruzi in 2007. In the USA we estimated that 1.9% of approximately 13 million Latin American immigrants in 2000, and 2% of 17 million in 2007, were potentially infected with T. cruzi. Of these, 49,157 and 65,133 in 2000 and 2007 respectively, may have or may develop symptoms and signs of chronic Chagas disease. Governments should implement policies to prevent donations of blood and organs from T. cruzi infected donors. In addition, an infrastructure that assures detection and treatment of acute and chronic cases as well as congenital infection should be developed.
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Ndao M, Spithill TW, Caffrey R, Li H, Podust VN, Perichon R, Santamaria C, Ache A, Duncan M, Powell MR, Ward BJ. Identification of novel diagnostic serum biomarkers for Chagas' disease in asymptomatic subjects by mass spectrometric profiling. J Clin Microbiol 2010; 48:1139-49. [PMID: 20071547 PMCID: PMC2849606 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02207-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2009] [Revised: 12/26/2009] [Accepted: 01/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 10 million people are thought to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, primarily in the Americas. The clinical manifestations of Chagas' disease (CD) are variable, but most subjects remain asymptomatic for decades. Only 15 to 30% eventually develop terminal complications. All current diagnostic tests have limitations. New approaches are needed for blood bank screening as well as for improved diagnosis and prognosis. Sera from subjects with asymptomatic CD (n = 131) were compared to those from uninfected controls (n = 164) and subjects with other parasitic diseases (n = 140), using protein array mass spectrometry. To identify biomarkers associated with CD, sera were fractionated by anion-exchange chromatography and bound to two commercial ProteinChip array chemistries: WCX2 and IMAC3. Multiple candidate biomarkers were found in CD sera (3 to 75.4 kDa). Algorithms employing 3 to 5 of these biomarkers achieved up to 100% sensitivity and 98% specificity for CD. The biomarkers most useful for diagnosis were identified and validated. These included MIP1 alpha, C3a anaphylatoxin, and unusually truncated forms of fibronectin, apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and C3. An antipeptide antiserum against the 28.9-kDa C terminus of the fibronectin fragment achieved good specificity (90%) for CD in a Western blot format. We identified full-length ApoA1 (28.1 kDa), the major structural and functional protein component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), as an important negative biomarker for CD, and relatively little full-length ApoA1 was detected in CD sera. This work provides proof of principle that both platform-dependent (i.e., mass spectrometry-based) and platform-independent (i.e., Western blot) tests can be generated using high-throughput mass profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Momar Ndao
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Negrão CE, Santos AC, Rondon MU, Franco FG, Ianni B, Rochitte CE, Braga AM, Oliveira MT, Mady C, Barretto AC, Middlekauff HR. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity in patients with Chagas' disease. Int J Cardiol 2009; 137:252-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2008.06.093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2008] [Accepted: 06/28/2008] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Tomblyn M, Chiller T, Einsele H, Gress R, Sepkowitz K, Storek J, Wingard JR, Young JAH, Boeckh MJ, Boeckh MA. Guidelines for preventing infectious complications among hematopoietic cell transplantation recipients: a global perspective. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2009; 15:1143-238. [PMID: 19747629 PMCID: PMC3103296 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2009.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1155] [Impact Index Per Article: 77.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2009] [Accepted: 06/23/2009] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Ramos EI, Garza KM, Krauth-Siegel RL, Bader J, Martinez LE, Maldonado RA. 2,3-diphenyl-1,4-naphthoquinone: a potential chemotherapeutic agent against Trypanosoma cruzi. J Parasitol 2009; 95:461-6. [PMID: 18788881 DOI: 10.1645/ge-1686.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2008] [Accepted: 09/03/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a widespread infection in Latin America. Currently, only 2 partially effective and highly toxic drugs, i.e., benznidazole and nifurtimox, are available for the treatment of this disease, and several efforts are underway in the search for better chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we have determined the trypanocidal activity of 2,3-diphenyl-1 ,4-naphthoquinone (DPNQ), a novel quinone derivative. In vitro, DPNQ was highly cytotoxic at a low, micromolar concentration (LD50 = 2.5 microM) against epimastigote, cell-derived trypomastigote, and intracellular amastigote forms of T. cruzi, but not against mammalian cells (LD50 = 130 microM). In vivo studies on the murine model of Chagas disease revealed that DPNQ-treated animals (3 doses of 10 mg/kg/day) showed a significant delay in parasitemia peak and higher (up to 60%) survival rate 70 days post-infection, when compared with the control group (infected, untreated). We also observed a 2-fold decrease in parasitemia between the control group (infected, untreated) and the treated group (infected, treated). No apparent drug toxicity effects were noticed in the control group (uninfected, treated). In addition, we determined that DPNQ is the first competitive inhibitor of T. cruzi lipoamide dehydrogenase (TcLipDH) thus far described. Our results indicate that DPNQ is a promising chemotherapeutic agent against T. cruzi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique I Ramos
- Department of Biological Sciences, The Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, Texas 79968, USA
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Grellier P, Benach J, Labaied M, Charneau S, Gil H, Monsalve G, Alfonso R, Sawyer L, Lin L, Steiert M, Dupuis K. Photochemical inactivation with amotosalen and long-wavelength ultraviolet light ofPlasmodiumandBabesiain platelet and plasma components. Transfusion 2008; 48:1676-84. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01762.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Schmunis GA. Epidemiology of Chagas disease in non-endemic countries: the role of international migration. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2008; 102 Suppl 1:75-85. [PMID: 17891282 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762007005000093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 340] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2007] [Accepted: 07/02/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human infection with the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi extends through North, Central, and South America, affecting 21 countries. Most human infections in the Western Hemisphere occur through contact with infected bloodsucking insects of the triatomine species. As T. cruzi can be detected in the blood of untreated infected individuals, decades after infection took place; the infection can be also transmitted through blood transfusion and organ transplant, which is considered the second most common mode of transmission for T. cruzi. The third mode of transmission is congenital infection. Economic hardship, political problems, or both, have spurred migration from Chagas endemic countries to developed countries. The main destination of this immigration is Australia, Canada, Spain, and the United States. In fact, human infection through blood or organ transplantation, as well as confirmed or potential cases of congenital infections has been described in Spain and in the United States. Estimates reported here indicates that in Australia in 2005-2006, 1067 of the 65,255 Latin American immigrants (16 per 1000) may be infected with T. cruzi, and in Canada, in 2001, 1218 of the 131,135 immigrants (9 per 1000) whose country of origin was identified may have been also infected. In Spain, a magnet for Latin American immigrants since the 2000, 6141 of 38,777 to 339,954 [corrected] legal immigrants in 2003 (25 per 1000), could be infected. In the United States, 56,028 to 357,205 of the 7,20 million, legal immigrants (8 to 50 per 1000), depending on the scenario, from the period 1981-2005 may be infected with T. cruzi. On the other hand, 33,193 to 336,097 of the estimated 5,6 million undocumented immigrants in 2000 (6 to 59 per 1000) could be infected. Non endemic countries receiving immigrants from the endemic ones should develop policies to protect organ recipients from T. cruzi infection, prevent tainting the blood supply with T. cruzi, and implement secondary prevention of congenital Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A Schmunis
- Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, 525 23rd Street, NW Washington, DC 20037, USA.
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O'Brien SF, Chiavetta JA, Fan W, Xi G, Yi QL, Goldman M, Scalia V, Fearon MA. Assessment of a travel question to identify donors with risk of Trypanosoma cruzi: operational validity and field testing. Transfusion 2008; 48:755-61. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01602.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Gorlin J, Rossmann S, Robertson G, Stallone F, Hirschler N, Nguyen KA, Gilcher R, Fernandes H, Alvey S, Ajongwen P, Contestable P, Warren H. Evaluation of a new Trypanosoma cruzi antibody assay for blood donor screening. Transfusion 2008; 48:531-40. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01566.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Hanford EJ, Zhan FB, Lu Y, Giordano A. Chagas disease in Texas: Recognizing the significance and implications of evidence in the literature. Soc Sci Med 2007; 65:60-79. [PMID: 17434248 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.02.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2005] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is endemic and is recognized as a major health problem in many Latin American countries. Despite the parallels between socio-economic and environmental conditions in Texas and much of Latin America, Chagas disease is not a notifiable human disease in Texas. Based on extensive review of related literature, this paper seeks to recognize the evidence that Chagas Disease is endemic to Texas but the epidemiological, parasitological and entomological patterns of Chagas disease in Texas are both different from and parallel to other endemic regions. We find that with a growing immigrant human reservoir, the epidemiological differences may be reduced and result in increasing incidence of the disease. Chagas disease should be recognized as an emerging disease among both immigrant and indigenous populations. Without proper actions, Chagas disease will place increasing burden on the health care system. Current medical treatments consist of chemotherapies that carry the risk of serious side effects; curing the potentially fatal disease remains equivocal. Therefore, as shown in South America, prevention is paramount and can be successfully achieved through intervention and education. We conclude that biogeographical research is needed to (1) distinguish the dynamic evolution of the agent-vector-host system, (2) document locations with greater risk and identify mechanisms responsible for observed changes in risk, and (3) assist in developing a model for Triatomid vector-borne disease in states like Texas where the disease is both endemic and may be carried by a sizeable immigrant population. Tracking of Chagas disease and planning for appropriate health care services would also be aided by including Chagas disease on the list of reportable diseases for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Jennifer Hanford
- Department of Geography, Texas Center for Geographic Information Science, Texas State University, Texas, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA.
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Buekens P, Almendares O, Carlier Y, Dumonteil E, Eberhard M, Gamboa-Leon R, James M, Padilla N, Wesson D, Xiong X. Mother-to-Child Transmission of Chagas’ Disease in North America: Why Don’t We Do More? Matern Child Health J 2007; 12:283-6. [PMID: 17602289 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-007-0246-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2006] [Accepted: 06/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mothers with Chagas' disease can transmit Trypanosoma cruzi to their fetuses, who often become carriers of the infection and are then at risk of developing severe cardiac disease later in the course of their lives. If identified early enough after birth, the infected newborns can be treated and cured. Our objective was to review the data available in Canada, Mexico, and the United States and to discuss the need for prevention programs. METHODS We reviewed the literature and estimated the number of seropositive mothers and newborns infected by T. cruzi. RESULTS We estimate that about 40,000 pregnant women and 2,000 newborns are likely to be infected by T. cruzi in North America. We have not identified any ongoing prevention programs. CONCLUSIONS Mother-to-child transmission of T. cruzi has all the characteristics required to be a public health priority, as it is relatively frequent, severe, identifiable, and treatable. In reality, it is a neglected disease and a missed opportunity. It is urgent to better understand the epidemiology of mother-to-child transmission of T. cruzi in North America and to develop effective prevention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Buekens
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2430, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
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Tobler LH, Contestable P, Pitina L, Pitina L, Groth H, Shaffer S, Blackburn GR, Warren H, Lee SR, Busch MP. Evaluation of a new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Chagas antibody in US blood donors. Transfusion 2007; 47:90-6. [PMID: 17207235 DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01068.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, represents a serious blood safety problem due to increasing immigration from Latin America. The Food and Drug Administration recently recommended implementation of Chagas antibody screening for US donors as soon as a suitable assay is licensed. An anonymized preclinical study of a prototype T. cruzi lysate-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed by Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics was conducted. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Two populations of specimens were evaluated: 1) 10,192 sequential donations from blood donors residing in the El Paso, Texas, area and 2) 178 specimens from South America which were presumptively positive for antibodies to T. cruzi and purchased from commercial vendors. RESULTS A total of 10,189 (99.97%) of the 10,192 screened donor specimens did not react, whereas 3 (0.03%) tested initially reactive. The 3 initially reactive specimens tested repeat reactive and were confirmed by radioimmunoprecipitation analysis (RIPA). Based on antibody profile analysis, 2 of the 3 Chagas-positive specimens were from the same donor. Observed specificity of the test was therefore 100 percent. Of the specimens from South America, 173 of 178 were reactive by the prototype ELISA. Of the 5 nonreactive specimens, all did not react by indirect fluorescence assay, but 4 were positive by RIPA. Therefore, calculated sensitivity of the ELISA was 97.7 percent (173/177). CONCLUSIONS These studies indicate that the prototype ELISA has excellent sensitivity and specificity for detection of antibodies to T. cruzi in donors. Moreover, among donations from a geographically selected collection region of the United States, observed seroprevalence was 0.03 percent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie H Tobler
- Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, California 94118, USA.
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Other Viral, Bacterial, Parasitic and Prion-Based Infectious Complications. BLOOD BANKING AND TRANSFUSION MEDICINE 2007. [PMCID: PMC7152373 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-06981-9.50053-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Kirchhoff LV, Paredes P, Lomelí-Guerrero A, Paredes-Espinoza M, Ron-Guerrero CS, Delgado-Mejía M, Peña-Muñoz JG. Transfusion-associated Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) in Mexico: implications for transfusion medicine in the United States. Transfusion 2006; 46:298-304. [PMID: 16441610 DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2006.00715.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan cause of Chagas disease, causes life-long infection and is easily transmitted by blood transfusion. Our goals were to determine the prevalence of Chagas disease among donors in five Mexican blood banks, to look for evidence of transmission of T. cruzi by transfusion, and to evaluate two serologic assays for Chagas disease. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Blood samples from donors were tested initially with the Abbott Chagas EIA or the Meridian Chagas' IgG ELISA. Samples giving readings that were at least 50% of the cutoffs were run in a confirmatory radioimmune precipitation assay (RIPA), as were samples from recipients of blood products from RIPA-positive donors. RESULTS The overall prevalence of Chagas disease was 1/133 (55/7,296; 0.75%). In addition, 4 of 9 surviving recipients of blood products from T. cruzi-infected donors were in turn infected. Using the manufacturers' recommended cutoffs, the sensitivity and specificity of the Abbott test were 92.0% (23/25) and 99.8% (2,865/2,872) respectively, and the corresponding values for the Meridian assay were 70.0% (21/30) and 100.0% (4,369/4,369). CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate clearly that transfusion-associated transmission of T. cruzi is occurring in the study areas. Serologic testing of blood donors for Chagas disease should be performed there and in the rest of Mexico. The two screening assays evaluated may lack the accuracy necessary for blood donor testing when used as suggested by the manufacturers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis V Kirchhoff
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
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Abstract
The risk of transfusion-transmitted infectious diseases (TTIDs) has declined dramatically in high-income nations over the past 2 decades, primarily because of extraordinary success in preventing HIV and other established transfusion-transmitted viruses from entering the blood supply. Despite this achievement, TTIDs remain a public health concern, and attention is refocusing on new and emerging pathogens, such as West Nile virus, infectious proteins (the presumed cause of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease), and other transmissible organisms such as bacteria and parasites. In this article the authors concentrate on this heterogeneous group of infectious agents, describe individual pathogens and the risks they pose to transfusion recipients, and comment on existing and evolving procedures that are designed to protect the blood supply from this threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eberhard W Fiebig
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Leiby
- Transmissible Diseases Department, Jerome H. Holland Laboratory for the Biomedical Sciences, Rockville, MD 20855, USA.
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Abstract
During the past 15 years, it has become clear that new agents and new strains of existing agents continue to emerge worldwide as protagonists of infectious disease. These emerging agents pose threats not only to the general human population but also to recipients of blood transfusions. Indeed, the modern era of blood safety perhaps began with the recognition of HIV as an emerging agent transmissible by blood transfusion. Today, emerging infectious agents that pose a threat to the blood supply are not limited to viruses, but include bacterial, protozoan, and prion agents. Preventing the transmission of these new agents by blood transfusion is often problematic, as the available tools may be inadequate. It is certain, however, that new agents will continue to emerge as threats to blood safety and these agents are likely to require novel approaches to prevent their transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger Y Dodd
- Transmissible Diseases Department, Jerome H. Holland Laboratory for the Biomedical Sciences, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland 20855, USA.
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Van Voorhis WC, Barrett LK, Eastman RT, Alfonso R, Dupuis K. Trypanosoma cruzi inactivation in human platelet concentrates and plasma by a psoralen (amotosalen HCl) and long-wavelength UV. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2003; 47:475-9. [PMID: 12543646 PMCID: PMC151742 DOI: 10.1128/aac.47.2.475-479.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan pathogen that causes Chagas' disease, can be found in the blood of infected individuals for their entire life span. This presents a serious challenge in safeguarding blood products. Transmission of T. cruzi from blood products is a frequent occurrence in Latin America, where Chagas' disease is endemic. This study was designed to determine whether T. cruzi could be inactivated in human platelet concentrates and plasma by a photochemical treatment process with long-wavelength UV A light (UVA, 320 to 400 nm) plus the psoralen amotosalen HCl (Cerus Corporation). Units of platelet concentrates (300 ml) and plasma (300 ml) were intentionally contaminated with approximately 10(6) T. cruzi trypomastigotes, the T. cruzi form found in the bloodstream, per ml. The viability of T. cruzi after photochemical inactivation was determined by their ability to replicate in 3T3 fibroblasts. Controls, including treatment with 150 micro M amotosalen or 3 J/cm(2) UVA alone, did not lead to reduction of the viability of T. cruzi in plasma or platelet concentrates. However, treatment with 150 micro M amotosalen plus 3 J/cm(2) UVA inactivated T. cruzi to undetectable levels in plasma and platelet concentrates. This represented a >5.4-log reduction of T. cruzi in platelet concentrates and >5.0-log reduction of T. cruzi in plasma. We conclude that the amotosalen plus UVA photochemical inactivation technology is effective in inactivating high levels of protozoan pathogens, such as T. cruzi, in platelet concentrates and plasma, as has been previously shown for numerous viruses and bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley C Van Voorhis
- Departments of Medicine. Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
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Guidelines for preventing opportunistic infections among hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Recommendations of CDC, the Infectious Disease Society of America, and the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Cytotherapy 2003; 3:41-54. [PMID: 12028843 DOI: 10.1080/146532401753156403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Leiby DA, Herron RM, Read EJ, Lenes BA, Stumpf RJ. Trypanosoma cruzi in Los Angeles and Miami blood donors: impact of evolving donor demographics on seroprevalence and implications for transfusion transmission. Transfusion 2002; 42:549-55. [PMID: 12084162 DOI: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.2002.00077.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' disease, continues to be a concern for blood safety, as demonstrated by recent transfusion-transmitted cases in the United States and Canada. The chronic nature of Chagas', coupled with increasing numbers of immigrants from T. cruzi-endemic countries, suggests that Chagas' is a long-term public health problem. Herein, we report on a multiyear epidemiologic study of T. cruzi in Los Angeles and Miami blood donors. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS From May 1994 to September 1998, blood donors in Los Angeles and Miami were queried regarding birth or time spent in an endemic country. Donations of "yes" respondents were tested by EIA, confirmed by radioimmunoprecipitation assay, and if confirmed as seropositive, enrolled in look-back investigations. RESULTS A total of 1,104,030 Los Angeles and 181,139 Miami donors were queried regarding risk; 7.3 and 14.3 percent, respectively, responded yes. Seropositive rates were 1 in 7,500 Los Angeles and 1 in 9,000 Miami donors. In Los Angeles, seroprevalence rates increased significantly from 1996 to 1998 and were significantly higher for directed donors than nondirected donors. Look back identified 18 recipients, all of whom were seronegative for T. cruzi. CONCLUSION Significant numbers of T. cruzi-seropositive donors contribute to the U.S. blood supply. The incidence of seropositivity is enhanced by minority recruitment efforts necessitated by donor demographic shifts. Similarly, high rates among directed donations in Los Angeles are attributable to a disproportionate number of at-risk directed donors. Current look-back data likely underestimate the frequency of transfusion- transmitted T. cruzi. These results indicate that continued evaluation of transfusion as a mode of T. cruzi transmission in the United States is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Leiby
- Transmissible Diseases Department, American Red Cross, Jerome H. Holland Laboratory, Rockville, MD 20855, USA.
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Abstract
Ticks are effective vectors of viral, bacterial, rickettsial and parasitic diseases. Many of the tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are of significance to transfusion medicine, either because of the risks they pose to the blood supply or the necessity for blood products required in their treatment. The transmission of tick-borne pathogens via blood transfusion is of global concern. However, among transfusion medicine practitioners, experience with most of these microorganisms is limited. Transfusion transmission of TBDs has been documented largely by means of single case reports. A better understanding of the epidemiology, biology and management of this group of diseases is necessary in order to assess the risks they pose to the blood supply and to help guide effective prevention strategies to reduce this risk. Unique methods are required to focus on donor selection, predonation questioning, mass screening and inactivation or eradication procedures. The role of the transfusion medicine service in their treatment also needs to be better defined. This article reviews the growing body of literature pertaining to this emerging field of transfusion medicine and offers some recommendations for transfusionists in dealing with TBDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Pantanowitz
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Blejer JL, Saguier MC, Salamone HJ. Antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi among blood donors in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Int J Infect Dis 2001; 5:89-93. [PMID: 11468104 DOI: 10.1016/s1201-9712(01)90032-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi in the blood donor population in Buenos Aires, to compare the relative sensitivity and specificity of the two screening tests used and to confirm the results with a third assay. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between May 1995 and July 1999, 64,887 blood donor consecutive samples were screened with the following commercial tests: indirect hemagglutination (IHA) (Polychaco, Buenos Aires, Argentina) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (40,222 with Chagatek, Organon Teknika, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and 24,665 with Chagas EIA, Abbott, São Paulo, Brazil). Repeatedly reactive samples in one or both tests were analyzed with a third method: dot blot (Bio Chagas, Gador, Buenos Aires, Argentina) or particle agglutination (Serodia, Fujirebio, Tokyo, Japan). Sera that reacted in at least two tests were considered positive. RESULTS The seroprevalence was 2.66% (1744 samples were reactive for one or both screening tests), and 1.46% (949 samples) were confirmed positive. The ELISAs proved to be more sensitive (relative sensitivity: 99.67-99.71%) whereas 192 samples (0.47%) were IHA false-negatives (relative sensitivity: 79.77%). Relative specificity for EIA was 98.47--99.23% and for IHA 99.85%. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest the need of performing two screening tests for Chagas disease in blood banks from endemic areas and the importance of a third confirmatory assay to avoid unnecessary medical counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Blejer
- Transfusion Medicine Division and Clinical Research Department, Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Favaloro Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Snyder EL, Dodd RY. Reducing the risk of blood transfusion. HEMATOLOGY. AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY. EDUCATION PROGRAM 2001; 2001:433-442. [PMID: 11722997 DOI: 10.1182/asheducation-2001.1.433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
There are continuing concerns over the safety of the nation's and the world's blood supply. The allogeneic blood supply is tested for antibodies to HIV1/2, HTLVI/II, hepatitis B, hepatitis C (HCV) and syphilis. Testing is also performed for donor ALT (SGOT) levels, for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) p24 antigen and, using nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT), for HIV and HCV nucleic acids. Still, there are concerns regarding other pathogenic agents. Dr. Roger Dodd addresses a series of pathogens that are already known to be transmissible by transfusion. These include malaria, Chagas' disease, babesiosis, bacteria and some viral agents. The need for new donor screening assays to protect the integrity and purity of the blood supply must be balanced against the loss of potential donors and the cost of developing and implementing these new screening assays. This issue will be highlighted. Dr. Edward Snyder reviews the status of research into development of systems for pathogen inactivation (PI) of blood and its components. A proactive technology wherein PI reagents such as psoralen, riboflavin, dimethylmethylene blue or inactine are added to blood collection bags could assure multiple log reduction of a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and fungi without the need to initially pre-screen the blood for a specific pathogen. Such a program could also cover new pathogens as they enter the blood supply. As a key issue relates to the toxicology of these agents, Dr. Snyder provides data on a novel carcinogenicity assay that uses a heterozygous p53 knock-out mouse model. The criteria likely to be needed for PI technology to be adopted by the transfusion community are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Snyder
- Blood Bank, Yale-New Haven Hospital, CT 06504-1001, USA
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Leiby DA, Rentas FJ, Nelson KE, Stambolis VA, Ness PM, Parnis C, McAllister HA, Yawn DH, Stumpf RJ, Kirchhoff LV. Evidence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection (Chagas' disease) among patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Circulation 2000; 102:2978-82. [PMID: 11113049 DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.102.24.2978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' heart disease, is transmitted by triatomine insects and by blood transfusion. The emigration of several million people from T cruzi-endemic countries to the United States has raised concerns regarding a possible increase in cases of Chagas' heart disease here, as well as an increased risk of transfusion-transmitted T cruzi. To investigate these 2 possible outcomes, we tested a repository of blood specimens from multiply transfused cardiac surgery patients for antibodies to T cruzi. METHODS AND RESULTS Postoperative blood specimens from 11 430 cardiac surgery patients were tested by enzyme immunoassay, and if repeat-reactive, were confirmed by radioimmunoprecipitation. Six postoperative specimens (0.05%) were confirmed positive. Corresponding preoperative specimens, available for 4 of these patients, were also positive. The other 2 patients had undergone heart transplantations. Tissue samples from their excised hearts were tested for T cruzi by polymerase chain reaction and were positive. Despite the fact that several of these 6 patients had histories and clinical findings suggestive of Chagas' disease, none of them were diagnosed with or tested for it. Patient demographics showed that 5 of 6 positive patients were Hispanic, and overall, 2. 7% of Hispanic patients in the repository were positive. CONCLUSIONS No evidence for transfusion-transmitted T cruzi was found. All 6 seropositive patients apparently were infected with T cruzi before surgery; however, a diagnosis of Chagas' disease was not known or even considered in any of these patients. Indeed, Chagas' disease may be an underdiagnosed cause of cardiac disease in the United States, particularly among patients born in countries in which T cruzi is endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Leiby
- American Red Cross, Rockville, MD 20855, USA.
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Petkova SB, Tanowitz HB, Magazine HI, Factor SM, Chan J, Pestell RG, Bouzahzah B, Douglas SA, Shtutin V, Morris SA, Tsang E, Weiss LM, Christ GJ, Wittner M, Huang H. Myocardial expression of endothelin-1 in murine Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Cardiovasc Pathol 2000; 9:257-65. [PMID: 11064272 DOI: 10.1016/s1054-8807(00)00045-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important cause of myocarditis and chronic cardiomyopathy and is accompanied by microvascular spasm and myocardial ischemia. We reported previously that infection of cultured endothelial cells with T. cruzi increased the synthesis of biologically active endothlein-1 (ET-1). In the present study, we examined the role of ET-1 in the cardiovascular system of CD1 mice infected with the Brazil strain of T. cruzi and C57BL/6 mice infected with the Tulahuen strain during acute infection. In the myocardium of infected mice myonecrosis and multiple pseudocysts were observed. There was also an intense vasculitis of the aorta, coronary artery, smaller myocardial vessels and the endocardial endothelium. Immunohistochemistry studies employing anti-ET-1 antibody revealed increased expression of ET-1 that was most intense in the endocardial and vascular endothelium. Elevated levels of mRNA for preproET-1, endothelin converting enzyme and ET-1 were observed in the same myocardial samples. Plasma ET-1 levels were significantly elevated in infected CD1 mice 10-15 days post infection. These observations suggest that increased levels of ET-1 are a consequence of the initial invasion of the cardiovascular system and provide a mechanism for infection-associated myocardial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Petkova
- Departments of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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Moody AH, Chiodini PL. Methods for the detection of blood parasites. CLINICAL AND LABORATORY HAEMATOLOGY 2000; 22:189-201. [PMID: 11012630 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2257.2000.00318.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A H Moody
- Department of Clinical Parasitology, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London, UK
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Leiby DA, Wendel S, Takaoka DT, Fachini RM, Oliveira LC, Tibbals MA. Serologic testing for Trypanosoma cruzi: comparison of radioimmunoprecipitation assay with commercially available indirect immunofluorescence assay, indirect hemagglutination assay, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. J Clin Microbiol 2000; 38:639-42. [PMID: 10655360 PMCID: PMC86165 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.38.2.639-642.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/1999] [Accepted: 11/22/1999] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) has been used as a confirmatory test in several ongoing and published studies of Trypanosoma cruzi in blood donors in the United States. Despite its use as a confirmatory test, few studies are available comparing RIPA to commercially available serologic test methods. Thus, we compared RIPA with two indirect hemagglutination assays (Biolab Diagnostica SA, São Paulo, Brazil; Hemagen Diagnostics, Inc., Waltham, Mass.) and four different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Ill.; Embrabio, São Paulo, Brazil; Organon Teknika, São Paulo, Brazil; and Gull Laboratories, Salt Lake City, Utah) using a panel of 220 serum specimens from Brazilian blood donors with a range of T. cruzi antibody titers as determined by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A titer of 1:20 was used as the baseline for seropositivity. All IFA-negative serum specimens (n = 19) were nonreactive on all tests. At a titer of 1:20 (n = 9), reactivity rates varied considerably among the tests, with only the RIPA and the Organon and Gull assays identifying reactive specimens. For specimens at a 1:40 titer (n = 35), most assays identified at least 32 of 35 (91%) specimens as reactive, but the Biolab assay only identified 24 (69%). At higher titers (1:80, n = 56; 1:160, n = 101) the assays were comparable, with the exception of the Biolab assay, demonstrating rates of agreement with IFA of >/=98%. Overall, when compared with several other test formats, RIPA demonstrated equivalent or superior rates of agreement with IFA-positive specimens across all titers examined. In particular, at titers of >1:40, the RIPA compared favorably with other test methods currently in use, supporting its application as a confirmatory test, particularly in a research setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Leiby
- Transmissible Diseases Department, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland 20855, USA
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Leiby DA, Lenes BA, Tibbals MA, Tames-Olmedo MT. Prospective evaluation of a patient with Trypanosoma cruzi infection transmitted by transfusion. N Engl J Med 1999; 341:1237-9. [PMID: 10523159 DOI: 10.1056/nejm199910143411615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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