title: Transfusion-transmitted anaplasmosis from leukoreduced red blood cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a tick-borne rickettsial infectious disease. To date four cases of transfusion-transmitted anaplasmosis (TTA) have been described in the literature, and only one from leukoreduced red blood cells (RBCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 64-year-old patient with acute gastrointestinal blood loss was admitted to the hospital and received 5 units of prestorage leukoreduced RBCs. He was stabilized and discharged. He developed headache, fever, and chills 2 days after discharge and was readmitted. On Day 5 of his second admission polymorphonuclear leukocytes containing morulae consistent with HGA were reported in the peripheral smear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Samples from the recipient tested positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agent of HGA and a segment from one of the five donors tested positive by both serology and PCR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leukoreduction theoretically reduces the risk of TTA but does not interdict all infections. TTA requires consideration in recipients of RBC transfusion with unexplained fever.
authors.affiliation: Blood Bank and Transfusion Medicine, the Division of Infectious Disease, The Miriam Hospital, and the Rhode Island Blood Center, Providence, Rhode Island; and Imugen, Inc., Norwood, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Hiba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alhumaidan
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Westley
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Esteva
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sweeney
mesh_terms: D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000472:pathogenicity; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D041001:Babesia microti / Q000472:pathogenicity; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018469:Ehrlichia chaffeensis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction