Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
09:02
An Experimental Model to Study Tuberculosis-Malaria Coinfection upon Natural Transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium berghei
Published on: February 17, 2014
Transfusion transmitted malaria in a non-endemic area.
1Department of Medicine, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla 171001, Himachal Pradesh.
The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
|March 11, 2010
Summary
Transfusion-transmitted malaria is a rare but serious concern in non-endemic regions. Prompt diagnosis and prevention strategies are crucial for patient safety and public health.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Hematology
- Public Health
Background:
- Transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) is a rare but potentially severe complication of blood transfusions.
- Non-endemic areas face unique challenges in diagnosing and managing TTM due to its infrequent occurrence.
- Tourist destinations like Shimla are vulnerable to imported malaria cases, increasing the risk of TTM.
Observation:
- A case of transfusion-transmitted Plasmodium falciparum malaria occurred at IGMC Shimla, a non-endemic area.
- The diagnosis was delayed, highlighting challenges in recognizing rare transfusion-related infections.
- The patient's condition potentially worsened due to delayed treatment and complications.
Findings:
- This case underscores the importance of vigilance for TTM even in non-endemic settings.
- Effective diagnostic strategies are essential to identify TTM promptly.
- Preventive measures are critical to mitigate the risk of malaria transmission through blood products.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers in non-endemic regions must be aware of TTM risks and diagnostic criteria.
- Strengthening blood safety protocols is vital to prevent transfusion-transmitted infections.
- Public health initiatives should focus on malaria surveillance and control in areas with high tourist influx.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Malaria
Malaria pathogenesis in humans reflects a delicate interplay between parasite biology and host response. Clinical illness reflects a host’s immune response to the parasite’s asexual replication cycle, which is often asymptomatic in individuals with partial immunity. From the parasite's perspective, transmission between mosquito and human with minimal host pathology is evolutionarily advantageous. Among the six Plasmodium species infecting humans, P. falciparum and P. vivax dominate in global...
00:58Symbiosis
Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
01:28Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...
01:22American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
01:24Transmission of Pathogens
Pathogens spread from their reservoirs to susceptible hosts through three main routes: contact transmission, vehicle transmission, and vector transmission. Each route involves distinct mechanisms of transfer.Contact TransmissionThis category includes direct contact, indirect contact, and droplet transmission:Direct contact involves immediate physical interaction between individuals—such as a handshake—which can spread pathogens like Streptococcus pyogenes, the bacterium responsible for...
02:45Blood Transfusion and Agglutination
Blood transfusion is a therapeutic measure to restore the blood volume after extensive blood loss due to an accident or a medical procedure. Blood transfusion involves drawing a certain amount of blood from a suitable donor and infusing it into the recipient.
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...
History
The history of blood transfusion dates back to the 17th century, when early attempts were made in animals. In 1818 James Blundell, a British doctor, performed the first successful human blood transfusion. Later in 1900, Karl...