title: Asymptomatic Leishmania infantum/chagasi infection in blood donors of western Sicily.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the risk of transfusion-transmitted visceral leishmaniasis was present in an area of western Sicily where the incidence of the disease is higher than the regional average. From May to December 2005, 1449 blood donors from Agrigento district (Sicily, Italy) were screened for the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies by an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Blood samples from IFAT-positive donors were examined by PCR to detect Leishmania DNA. Anti-Leishmania antibodies were found in 11 (0.75%) cases, among which Leishmania DNA was detected from four (36.4%). Particular techniques to inactivate different pathogens would be considered mandatory in the case of immunosuppressed recipients.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Patologia Infettiva e Virologia, Università di Palermo, Via del Vespro, 127, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scarlata
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saporito
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reale
authors.forename: Valentina Li
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Vecchi
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Infurnari
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Occhipinti
authors.forename: Lucina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Titone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan