BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of malaria parasitemia in blood donors varies from 0.6% to 50%. Although the burden of TTM in malaria-endemic countries is unknown, it is recommended that all donated blood is screened for malaria parasites. This study aimed to establish the incidence of TTM and identify a suitable screening test. METHODS: Pregnant women, children, and immunocompromised malaria-negative transfusion recipients in a teaching hospital in Ghana were recruited over the course of 1 year. Parasites detected in recipients within 14 days of the transfusion were genotyped and compared to parasites in the transfused blood. The presence of genotypically identical parasites in the recipient and the transfused blood confirmed transfusion-transmitted malaria. Four malaria screening tests were compared to assess their usefulness in the context of African blood banks. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients who received transfusions that were positive for Plasmodium falciparum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 7 recipients developed PCR-detectable parasitemia. In only 1 of the 50 recipients (2%) was the parasite identical to that in the transfused blood. The prevalence of P. falciparum malaria in transfused blood was 4.7% (21/445) by microscopy, 13.7% (60/440) by rapid diagnostic test, 18% (78/436) by PCR, and 22.2% (98/442) by enzyme immunoassay. CONCLUSIONS: Although malaria parasites are commonly detected in blood donors in malaria-endemic areas, transfusion-transmitted malaria occurs infrequently. Policies recommend screening blood donors for malaria, but none of the commonly used methods is sufficiently sensitive to be used by blood banks in malaria-endemic countries.
BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of malaria parasitemia in blood donors varies from 0.6% to 50%. Although the burden of TTM in malaria-endemic countries is unknown, it is recommended that all donated blood is screened for malaria parasites. This study aimed to establish the incidence of TTM and identify a suitable screening test. METHODS: Pregnant women, children, and immunocompromised malaria-negative transfusion recipients in a teaching hospital in Ghana were recruited over the course of 1 year. Parasites detected in recipients within 14 days of the transfusion were genotyped and compared to parasites in the transfused blood. The presence of genotypically identical parasites in the recipient and the transfused blood confirmed transfusion-transmitted malaria. Four malaria screening tests were compared to assess their usefulness in the context of African blood banks. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients who received transfusions that were positive for Plasmodium falciparum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), 7 recipients developed PCR-detectable parasitemia. In only 1 of the 50 recipients (2%) was the parasite identical to that in the transfused blood. The prevalence of P. falciparum malaria in transfused blood was 4.7% (21/445) by microscopy, 13.7% (60/440) by rapid diagnostic test, 18% (78/436) by PCR, and 22.2% (98/442) by enzyme immunoassay. CONCLUSIONS: Although malaria parasites are commonly detected in blood donors in malaria-endemic areas, transfusion-transmitted malaria occurs infrequently. Policies recommend screening blood donors for malaria, but none of the commonly used methods is sufficiently sensitive to be used by blood banks in malaria-endemic countries.
Authors: Andrew P Cap; Heather F Pidcoke; Shawn D Keil; Hilary M Staples; Manu Anantpadma; Ricardo Carrion; Robert A Davey; Ashley Frazer-Abel; Audra L Taylor; Richard Gonzales; Jean L Patterson; Raymond P Goodrich Journal: Transfusion Date: 2016-03 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Shirley Owusu-Ofori; Joseph Kusi; Alex Owusu-Ofori; Graham Freimanis; Christine Olver; Caitlyn R Martinez; Shilo Wilkinson; Janna M Mundt; Shawn D Keil; Raymond P Goodrich; Jean-Pierre Allain Journal: Shock Date: 2015-08 Impact factor: 3.454
Authors: Jobert Richie N Nansseu; Jean Jacques N Noubiap; Shalom Tchokfe Ndoula; Albert Frank M Zeh; Chavely Gwladys Monamele Journal: Malar J Date: 2013-12-28 Impact factor: 2.979
Authors: Agnes Orbán; Ádám Butykai; András Molnár; Zsófia Pröhle; Gergö Fülöp; Tivadar Zelles; Wasan Forsyth; Danika Hill; Ivo Müller; Louis Schofield; Maria Rebelo; Thomas Hänscheid; Stephan Karl; István Kézsmárki Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-05-13 Impact factor: 3.240