title: Transmission of Chagas disease via blood transfusions in 2 immunosuppressed pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina).
abstract: A 2.25-y-old male pigtailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) was experimentally irradiated and received a bone marrow transplant. After transplantation and engraftment, the macaque had unexpected recurring pancytopenia and dependent edema of the prepuce, scrotum, and legs. The diagnostic work-up included a blood smear, which revealed a trypomastigote consistent with Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD). We initially hypothesized that the macaque had acquired the infection when it lived in Georgia. However, because the animal had received multiple blood transfusions, all blood donors were screened for CD. One male pigtailed macaque blood donor, which was previously housed in Louisiana, was positive for T. cruzi antibodies via serology. Due to the low prevalence of infection in Georgia, the blood transfusion was hypothesized to be the source of T. cruzi infection. The transfusion was confirmed as the mechanism of transmission when screening of archived serum revealed seroconversion after blood transfusion from the seropositive blood donor. The macaque made a full clinical recovery, and further follow-up including thoracic radiography, echocardiography, and gross necropsy did not show any abnormalities associated with CD. Other animals that received blood transfusions from the positive blood donor were tested, and one additional pigtailed macaque on the same research protocol was positive for T. cruzi. Although CD has been reported to occur in many nonhuman primate species, especially pigtailed macaques, the transmission of CD via blood transfusion in nonhuman primates has not been reported previously.
authors: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. Derek.Fong@ucdenver.edu.
authors: Derek L
authors: DL
authors: Fong
authors: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: Annie E
authors: AE
authors: Torrence
authors: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: Keith W
authors: KW
authors: Vogel
authors: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: Diane E
authors: DE
authors: Stockinger
authors: Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Nelson
authors: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA; Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: Robert D
authors: RD
authors: Murnane
authors: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA; Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: Audrey
authors: A
authors: Baldessari
authors: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: LaRene
authors: L
authors: Kuller
authors: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Agy
authors: Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: Hans-Peter
authors: HP
authors: Kiem
authors: Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
authors: Charlotte E
authors: CE
authors: Hotchkiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000662:veterinary*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008254:Macaca nemestrina / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D015415:Biomarkers