Prevalence of subclinical infectious agents in a blood donor population tested on every donation

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of blood-borne infectious agents in healthy, client-owned dogs from a blood donor population in Portugal and Spain, and to address the importance of a screening protocol on every donation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Client-owned healthy dogs were tested before each donation on a veterinary blood bank. Blood samples from new potential donors, and from regular donors, were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction for Leishmania species, Ehrlichia species, Brucella species, Babesia species and Anaplasma species Serological tests were also performed for Leishmania species, Ehrlichia species and Dirofilaria immitis. All donors were tested for every infectious agent in each donation.

RESULTS

The study found that out of a total of 8036 donors and 35,120 samples tested, 3.9% of blood donors tested positive for at least one of the agents, with the most prevalent being Anaplasma species (2.1%). Serological tests also revealed positive results in 14.0% of donors, with the highest percentage for Leishmania species (7.7%). Moreover, the study found that 28.2% of positive results were from dogs with negative results in donations performed 3 to 12 months before, and 18.0% of positive results were recent infections.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

These findings indicate a high prevalence of infectious agents in seemingly healthy, selected dogs eligible to become blood donors in the Iberian Peninsula, highlighting the importance of regular testing on every donation. This study emphasises the importance of a regular screening protocol for every donation instead of annual testing, as is commonly performed in veterinary medicine.

Transfusion transmissible pathogens are prevalent in healthy cats eligible to become blood donors

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to determine the prevalence of subclinical infectious agents considered core pathogens for worldwide screening in healthy, client-owned, indoor cats eligible to become blood donors in Spain and Portugal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood samples of healthy, indoor, domestic cats selected to be potential blood donors were tested for feline leukaemia virus antigens, feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies and polymerase chain reactions for Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, feline leukaemia virus provirus, Leishmania spp. and Bartonella spp. Not all donors were tested for all agents.

RESULTS

Overall, 5105 healthy indoor cats were tested and 8.1% (414/5105) had at least one subclinical infectious agent that is transmissible through blood product transfusion. 1.5% (77/5105) were positive for feline leukaemia virus antigens and 2.9% (148/5105) were positive for feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies, therefore they were excluded as donors. The overall prevalence of haemoplasmas in feline leukaemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus SNAP-negative feline blood donors was 3.7% (181/4880) [1.3% (63/4880) were positive for Mycoplasma haemofelis; 2.3% (112/4880) to Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 0.12% (6/4880) to Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis]. The prevalence of feline leukaemia provirus was 5.2% (9/173) and of Bartonella spp. was 0.2% (2/1122). None of the 173 cats were positive for Leishmania spp.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The prevalence of many transfusion transmissible pathogens was relatively high in this healthy, client-owned, indoor cats eligible to become blood donors. Performing an extended screening panel that includes at least polymerase chain reactions for Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis, feline leukaemia virus provirus, and Bartonella spp., in addition to feline leukaemia virus antigens and feline immunodeficiency virus antibodies, is recommended in pet blood banks from analogous regions.