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Pathogen inactivation technology applied to a blood component collected from an asymptomatic carrier of Leishmania
T Jimenez-Marco1, R Fisa, C Riera
1Fundació Banc de Sang i Teixits de les Illes Balears, Balearic Islands, Mallorca, Spain. matejimenez@hotmail.com
Abstract:
Asymptomatic Leishmania infections have been the main cause of transfusion transmission in endemic areas. Polymerase chain reaction has been used to detect L. infantum DNA in the peripheral blood of asymptomatic Leishmania carriers. In our region, the prevalence of asymptomatic L. infantum infection in donors is markedly high (5·9% of donors studied). We investigated the ability of pathogen inactivation technology, using amotosalen and UVA illumination, to eliminate L. infantum in a blood component collected from an asymptomatic L. infantum infected donor. This is the first report of the INTERCEPT system being used to eliminate a parasite from a component collected from a donor.
Insights
Asymptomatic Leishmania infections can transmit via blood transfusions. Pathogen inactivation technology effectively eliminated Leishmania infantum parasites from blood components, preventing transfusion transmission.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Transfusion Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Asymptomatic Leishmania infections are a significant source of transfusion-transmitted Leishmaniasis in endemic regions.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detects Leishmania infantum DNA in asymptomatic carriers.
- High prevalence (5.9%) of asymptomatic L. infantum infection observed in blood donors in the study region.
Observation:
- The study investigated the efficacy of amotosalen and UVA illumination (INTERCEPT system) for pathogen inactivation.
- The technology was applied to a blood component from a donor with asymptomatic L. infantum infection.
Findings:
- The INTERCEPT system successfully eliminated L. infantum from the blood component.
- This marks the first documented use of the INTERCEPT system to remove a parasite from a donor component.
Implications:
- Pathogen inactivation technology offers a promising strategy to prevent transfusion transmission of Leishmania.
- This approach could enhance blood safety in areas endemic for Leishmania.
- Further research may validate this method for other parasitic infections transmissible via blood transfusion.
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