Svetoslav N Slavov1, Marta R Hespanhol1, Evandra S Rodrigues1, José E Levi2, Eugênia M A Ubiali1, Dimas T Covas1, Simone Kashima1,3. 1. Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 2. Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 3. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In 2015, there was a large Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Brazil. The proportion of asymptomatic infections is very high, and it is possible for transfusion-transmitted ZIKV (TT-ZIKV) infection to occur. The prevalence of asymptomatic ZIKV infection among Brazilian blood donors during this epidemic outbreak is unknown. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Plasma samples obtained between October 2015 and May 2016 from 1393 volunteer blood donors were tested for ZIKV RNA. The viral load was quantified using an in-house standard curve. Additionally, positive ZIKV RNA samples were tested for anti-ZIKV immunoglobulin (Ig)M and anti-ZIKV IgG. RESULTS: Of the 1393 blood samples, ZIKV RNA was detected in 37 (n = 37/1393; 2.7%). The median infection viral load detected was 7714 copies/mL (ranging from 135-124,220 copies/mL). The majority of the positive samples (70.3%) exhibited a viral load of approximately 103 copies/mL. Six samples that were positive for ZIKV RNA were also positive for anti-ZIKV IgM and IgG (n = 6/37; 13.5%). CONCLUSION: This is the first study evaluating the prevalence of ZIKV RNA among Brazilian blood donors, which was relatively high and might lead to TT-ZIKV infection. It is unclear whether the simultaneous presence of anti-ZIKV IgM and IgG in RNA-positive donations or the viral load influences transfusion transmission of the infection. This study also adds to the global understanding of ZIKV prevalence in blood donors during outbreaks and the transfusion impact of the infection.
BACKGROUND: In 2015, there was a large Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in Brazil. The proportion of asymptomatic infections is very high, and it is possible for transfusion-transmitted ZIKV (TT-ZIKV) infection to occur. The prevalence of asymptomatic ZIKV infection among Brazilian blood donors during this epidemic outbreak is unknown. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Plasma samples obtained between October 2015 and May 2016 from 1393 volunteer blood donors were tested for ZIKV RNA. The viral load was quantified using an in-house standard curve. Additionally, positive ZIKV RNA samples were tested for anti-ZIKV immunoglobulin (Ig)M and anti-ZIKV IgG. RESULTS: Of the 1393 blood samples, ZIKV RNA was detected in 37 (n = 37/1393; 2.7%). The median infection viral load detected was 7714 copies/mL (ranging from 135-124,220 copies/mL). The majority of the positive samples (70.3%) exhibited a viral load of approximately 103 copies/mL. Six samples that were positive for ZIKV RNA were also positive for anti-ZIKV IgM and IgG (n = 6/37; 13.5%). CONCLUSION: This is the first study evaluating the prevalence of ZIKV RNA among Brazilian blood donors, which was relatively high and might lead to TT-ZIKV infection. It is unclear whether the simultaneous presence of anti-ZIKV IgM and IgG in RNA-positive donations or the viral load influences transfusion transmission of the infection. This study also adds to the global understanding of ZIKV prevalence in blood donors during outbreaks and the transfusion impact of the infection.
Authors: Ángel Giménez-Richarte; Mabel Ortiz de Salazar; Cristina Arbona; María P Giménez-Richarte; Miriam Collado; Pedro L Fernández; Francisco Quiles; Carlos Clavijo; Pascual Marco; Jose-Manuel Ramos-Rincon Journal: Blood Transfus Date: 2021-09-22 Impact factor: 5.752
Authors: Rafael Dos Santos Bezerra; Leonardo Scalon de Oliveira; Edson L Moretto; Eugênia M Amorim Ubiali; Roberta Maraninchi Silveira; Wilson A da Silva; Dimas Tadeu Covas; Simone Kashima; Svetoslav N Slavov Journal: Blood Transfus Date: 2020-07-22 Impact factor: 3.443
Authors: C Talero-Gutiérrez; A Rivera-Molina; C Pérez-Pavajeau; I Ossa-Ospina; C Santos-García; M C Rojas-Anaya; A de-la-Torre Journal: Epidemiol Infect Date: 2018-03-14 Impact factor: 4.434