Transplant-associated and blood transfusion-associated tropical and parasitic infections

Clarisse Martins Machado1, José Eduardo Levi

  • 1Virology Laboratory, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar 470, 05403-000 São Paulo, Brazil. clarimm@usp.br

Blood transfusion and transplantation may represent efficient mechanisms of spreading infectious agents to naive populations. In the developed countries, as a consequence of globalization, several factors such as international commerce, tourism, and immigration have acted as important features for the emergence or reemergence of infectious diseases previously referred to as tropical. This article reviews the relevant bacterial, protozoan and viral infections that are more frequently associated with blood transfusion and/or solid organ or marrow transplantation and may affect susceptible populations worldwide.

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