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Lewin A, Tonnetti L, Renaud C, Drews SJ, Bloch EM, O'Brien SF. Deferral of blood donors who have ever stayed in a Trypanosoma cruzi endemic area: An international survey. Vox Sang 2024; 119:921-926. [PMID: 38872389 DOI: 10.1111/vox.13692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
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. However, the efficiency of this approach has been questioned. MATERIALS AND METHODS On 18 September 2023, a worldwide survey was distributed among employees of blood transfusion services. The questions mainly pertained to CD's endemicity in the blood services' region, the current testing policy for T. cruzi and the number of confirmed positive results among donors with a prior at-risk stay alone (i.e., without other risk factors for T. cruzi infection). RESULTS Twenty-six recipients completed the survey. Of the 22 (84.6%) blood services that operated in a non-endemic region, 9 (42.9%) tested donors for T. cruzi, including 8 (88.9%) that considered the travel history or the duration of the stay (alone) in their testing algorithm ('study blood services'). Over 93 years of observation among all study blood services, 2 donations from donors with an at-risk stay alone and 299 from those with other risk factors were confirmed positive for T. cruzi. CONCLUSION The study findings question the utility of testing blood donors who have stayed in an endemic country without other risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Lewin
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laura Tonnetti
- Scientific Affairs, American Red Cross, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Christian Renaud
- Medical Affairs and Innovation, Héma-Québec, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Steven J Drews
- Canadian Blood Services, Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Evan M Bloch
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sheila F O'Brien
- Epidemiology & Surveillance, Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Worldwide Control and Management of Chagas Disease in a New Era of Globalization: a Close Look at Congenital Trypanosoma cruzi Infection. Clin Microbiol Rev 2022; 35:e0015221. [PMID: 35239422 PMCID: PMC9020358 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00152-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Population movements have turned Chagas disease (CD) into a global public health problem. Despite the successful implementation of subregional initiatives to control vectorial and transfusional Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in Latin American settings where the disease is endemic, congenital CD (cCD) remains a significant challenge. In countries where the disease is not endemic, vertical transmission plays a key role in CD expansion and is the main focus of its control. Although several health organizations provide general protocols for cCD control, its management in each geopolitical region depends on local authorities, which has resulted in a multitude of approaches. The aims of this review are to (i) describe the current global situation in CD management, with emphasis on congenital infection, and (ii) summarize the spectrum of available strategies, both official and unofficial, for cCD prevention and control in countries of endemicity and nonendemicity. From an economic point of view, the early detection and treatment of cCD are cost-effective. However, in countries where the disease is not endemic, national health policies for cCD control are nonexistent, and official regional protocols are scarce and restricted to Europe. Countries of endemicity have more protocols in place, but the implementation of diagnostic methods is hampered by economic constraints. Moreover, most protocols in both countries where the disease is endemic and those where it is not endemic have yet to incorporate recently developed technologies. The wide methodological diversity in cCD diagnostic algorithms reflects the lack of a consensus. This review may represent a first step toward the development of a common strategy, which will require the collaboration of health organizations, governments, and experts in the field.
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Velasco M, Gimeno-Feliú LA, Molina I, Salas-Coronas J, Solà I, Monge-Maillo B, Torrús-Tendero D, Caylà J, de Guzmán EN, Arellano JLP, Pérez-Molina JA. Screening for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in immigrants and refugees: Systematic review and recommendations from the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology. Euro Surveill 2020; 25:1900393. [PMID: 32127121 PMCID: PMC7055039 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.8.1900393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundChagas disease has spread beyond its original borders on the American continent with migration. It can be transmitted from mother to child, through organ transplantation and transfusion of blood and blood products. It is necessary to determine when to screen for this infection.AimOur objective was to evaluate the appropriateness of screening for Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Latin American migrants and their descendants.MethodsWe reviewed the literature using rigorous criteria. The quality of evidence was ranked according to the GRADE classification. An evidence to decision framework was adopted to provide information on the most relevant aspects necessary to formulate recommendations.ResultsThe 33 studies evaluated revealed a prevalence of T. cruzi infection among Latin American migrants in Europe of 6.08% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.24-9.69; 28 studies). Vertical transmission occurred in three of 100 live births (95% CI: 1-6; 13 studies). The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was 19% (95% CI: 13-27; nine studies), including only 1% severe cardiac events (95% CI: 0-2; 11 studies). The overall quality of evidence was low because of risk of bias in the studies and considerable heterogeneity of the evaluated populations. The recommendations took into account economic studies on the value of screening strategies and studies on acceptability of screening and knowledge of the disease in the affected population.ConclusionsWe identified five situations in which screening for T. cruzi infection is indicated. We recommend screening persons from endemic areas and children of mothers from these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Velasco
- Infectious and Tropical Medicine Section, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Andrés Gimeno-Feliú
- San Pablo Health Centre, Zaragoza, Spain,Department of Medicine, Psychiatry and Dermatology, University of Zaragoza. EpiChron Research Group on Chronic Diseases, Aragón Health Sciences Institute (IACS), IIS Aragón, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain,Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Israel Molina
- Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, PROSICS Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ivan Solà
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain,CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Monge-Maillo
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Torrús-Tendero
- Referral Unit for Imported Infections and International Health. Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. Parasitology Area, Miguel Hernández University, Alicante, Spain
| | - Joan Caylà
- Fundació de la Unitat d'Investigació en Tuberculosis (FuiTB), TB Research Unit, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ena Niño de Guzmán
- Iberoamerican Cochrane Centre, Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | - JL Pérez Arellano
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Unit, Hospital Insular de Las Palmas. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain,Medical and Surgical Sciences Department. Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Jose A Pérez-Molina
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
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Sayama Y, Furui Y, Takakura A, Ishinoda M, Matsumoto C, Taira R, Igarashi S, Momose S, Matsubayashi K, Uchida S, Hino S, Nagai T, Satake M. Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection among at-risk blood donors in Japan. Transfusion 2018; 59:287-294. [PMID: 30474861 DOI: 10.1111/trf.14999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and is endemic in Latin America. In nonendemic countries, including Japan, Chagas disease is primarily a problem in the context of transfusion transmission. Approximately 250,000 immigrants from Latin America reside in Japan, and many of those individuals serve as active blood donors. This study surveyed the seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection among at-risk blood donors in Japan, defined as those who themselves (or whose mothers) were born (or raised) in Latin America, or those with a travel history to Latin America. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Blood samples were obtained from at-risk donors in two periods, 2004-2012 and 2013-2016. Collected samples were tested for T. cruzi antibodies using both an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a chemiluminescent immunoassay. Samples that tested positive in both assays were additionally tested by polymerase chain reaction, and look-back investigation was conducted when necessary. RESULTS Of 18,484 samples obtained from 18,076 at-risk donors, 3 (1:6,025, 0.017%) donors showed seroreactivity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and chemiluminescent immunoassay. All antibody-positive donors were born in Latin America. One of them also was positive for T. cruzi DNA. Eleven previous donations from this donor were subjected to look-back investigation, and five recipients were tested. All five recipients tested negative for T. cruzi antibodies. CONCLUSION Seroprevalence of T. cruzi was 0.017% among at-risk donors in Japan. Transfusion-transmitted infection of Chagas disease has not been confirmed to date. Screening for T. cruzi antibodies by targeting at-risk donors is an appropriate strategy for ensuring blood safety in Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Sayama
- Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasumi Furui
- Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiko Takakura
- Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masazumi Ishinoda
- Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chieko Matsumoto
- Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Rikizo Taira
- Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeru Igarashi
- Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shun'ya Momose
- Japanese Red Cross Kinki Block Blood Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keiji Matsubayashi
- Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeharu Uchida
- Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Hino
- Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tadashi Nagai
- Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Satake
- Central Blood Institute, Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan.,Blood Service Headquarters, Japanese Red Cross Society, Tokyo, Japan
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Chagas disease and transfusion medicine: a perspective from non-endemic countries. BLOOD TRANSFUSION = TRASFUSIONE DEL SANGUE 2016; 13:540-50. [PMID: 26513769 DOI: 10.2450/2015.0040-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In the last decades, increasing international migration and travel from Latin America to Europe have favoured the emergence of tropical diseases outside their "historical" boundaries. Chagas disease, a zoonosis endemic in rural areas of Central and South America represents a clear example of this phenomenon. In the absence of the vector, one of the potential modes of transmission of Chagas disease in non-endemic regions is through blood and blood products. As most patients with Chagas disease are asymptomatic and unaware of their condition, in case of blood donation they can inadvertently represent a serious threat to the safety of the blood supply in non-endemic areas. Since the first cases of transfusion-transmitted Chagas disease were described in the last years, non-endemic countries began to develop ad hoc strategies to prevent and control the spread of the infection. United States, Spain, United Kingdom and France first recognised the need for Trypanosoma cruzi screening in at-risk blood donors. In this review, we trace an up-to-date perspective on Chagas disease, describing its peculiar features, from epidemiological, pathological, clinical and diagnostic points of view. Moreover, we describe the possible transmission of Chagas disease through blood or blood products and the current strategies for its control, focusing on non-endemic areas.
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Conners EE, Vinetz JM, Weeks JR, Brouwer KC. A global systematic review of Chagas disease prevalence among migrants. Acta Trop 2016; 156:68-78. [PMID: 26777312 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 01/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Human migration has been identified as a potential factor for increased Chagas disease risk and has transformed the disease from a Latin American problem to a global one. We conducted a systematic review of the scientific literature between 2004-2014 in order to: summarize recent seroprevalence estimates of Chagas disease among Latin American migrants, in both endemic and non-endemic settings; compare seroprevalence estimates in migrants to countrywide prevalence estimates; and identify risk factors for Chagas disease among migrants. A total of 320 studies were screened and 23 studies were included. We found evidence that the prevalence of Chagas disease is higher than expected in some migrant groups and that reliance on blood donor screening prevalence estimates underestimates the burden of disease. Overall there is a dearth of high quality epidemiologic studies on the prevalence of Chagas disease in migrants, especially among intra-regional migrants within Latin America. Given that this zoonotic disease cannot likely be eradicated, improved surveillance and reporting is vital to continuing control efforts. More accurate health surveillance of both Latin American migrants and the Chagas disease burden will help countries appropriately scale up their response to this chronic disease. Overall, improved estimates of Chagas disease among migrants would likely serve to highlight the real need for better screening, diagnostics, and treatment of individuals living with the disease.
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Blumental S, Lambermont M, Heijmans C, Rodenbach MP, El Kenz H, Sondag D, Bottieau E, Truyens C. First Documented Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi Infection through Blood Transfusion in a Child with Sickle-Cell Disease in Belgium. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003986. [PMID: 26469272 PMCID: PMC4607498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Blumental
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Catherine Heijmans
- Hemato-oncology Department, Hôpital Universitaire des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | - Emmanuel Bottieau
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Carine Truyens
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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A family cluster of Chagas disease detected through selective screening of blood donors: A case report and brief review. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2015; 26:157-61. [PMID: 26236358 PMCID: PMC4507842 DOI: 10.1155/2015/628981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is rare in Canada, and is most frequently observed among individuals who have resided in Latin America. The disease can enter a prolonged asymptomatic phase during which infected individuals do not experience symptoms, thus hindering its diagnosis – particularly in nonendemic regions such as Canada. This article describes a cluster of cases of Chagas disease among a single family, which was discovered on screening after two affected members of the family donated blood. The current state of screening programs for Trypanosoma cruzi are discussed, and suggestions for future directions are included. Chagas disease (CD) is a protozoan infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted by triatomine insect vectors in parts of Latin America. In a nonendemic country, such as Canada, spread can still occur via vertical transmission, and infected blood or organ donations. The Canadian Blood Services and Héma-Québec have both implemented selective screening of blood donors for CD based on risk factors. In 2011, Héma-Québec identified two seropositive ‘at-risk’ Chilean siblings who had donated blood in Montreal, Quebec. They were referred to the JD MacLean Centre for Tropical Diseases (Montreal, Quebec) for confirmatory testing (T cruzi excreted-secreted antigen ELISA, polymerase chain reaction and/or radioimmunoprecipitation assay) and follow-up. Screening of the rest of the family revealed two other seropositive family members (the mother and sister). While their geographical history in Chile suggests vectorial transmission, this family cluster of CD raises the possibility of vertical transmission. Congenital infection should always be considered among CD-positive mothers and pregnant women. With blood donor screening, Canadian physicians will increasingly see patients with CD and should know how to manage them appropriately. In addition to the case presentation, the authors review the transmission, screening and clinical management of CD in a nonendemic context.
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Katus MC, Szczepiorkowski ZM, Dumont LJ, Dunbar NM. Safety of platelet transfusion: past, present and future. Vox Sang 2014; 107:103-13. [PMID: 24650183 DOI: 10.1111/vox.12146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Revised: 01/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Platelet components became routinely available to many institutions in the late 1960s and since then utilization has steadily increased. Platelets are produced by three principal methods and their manufacturing process is regulated by multiple agencies. As the field of platelet transfusion has evolved, a broad array of strategies to improve platelet safety has developed. This review will explore the evolution of modern platelet component therapy, highlight the various risks associated with platelet transfusion and describe risk reduction strategies that have been implemented to improve platelet transfusion safety. In closing, the reader will be briefly introduced to select investigational platelet and platelet-mimetic products that have the potential to enhance platelet transfusion safety in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Katus
- Department of Pathology, Transfusion Medicine Service, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Yasukawa
- Section of Infectious Diseases; Department of Medicine; Baylor College of Medicine; Houston TX
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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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