Jacobs JW, Adkins BD, Bibb LA, Stephens LD, Woo JS, Bloch EM, Booth GS. New threats from an old foe: Evaluating the risk to the blood supply due to increasing incidence and endemicity of leprosy in the United States.
Transfus Apher Sci 2024;
63:103877. [PMID:
38242725 DOI:
10.1016/j.transci.2024.103877]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Leprosy (i.e., Hansen's disease) is a chronic disease secondary to infection with either Mycobacterium leprae or M. lepromatosis. While the incidence of this disease is decreasing across the world, there is mounting evidence that it might be increasing, and becoming endemic, in the United States. Leprosy was once considered a potential threat to the blood supply, and while this threat has not borne out, it is worth revisiting the available data to assess whether it may pose a threat in the future. Herein, we discuss the evidence for and against the potential for transfusion-transmission of leprosy, and highlight future areas of research to further elucidate this possibility.
Collapse