title: West Nile virus nucleic acid persistence in whole blood months after clearance in plasma: implication for transfusion and transplantation safety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous reports of West Nile virus (WNV) RNA persistence in blood compartments have raised concerns around the remaining risk of WNV transfusion transmission. This study characterized the dynamics of WNV viremia in blood compartments in a longitudinal cohort of 54 WNV-infected blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected throughout the year after WNV RNA-positive blood donation (index) and characterized for WNV immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG antibodies and for WNV RNA by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. WNV viral loads were compared in plasma and whole blood samples and correlated with blood groups and clinical outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WNV RNA persisted in the red blood cell (RBC) compartment up to 3 months postindex in 42% of the donors. Donors with the highest WNV RNA levels in plasma at index maintained the highest WNV RNA levels in whole blood over the 3 months postindex. Blood group A donors maintained higher postindex WNV viral load in whole blood than blood group O individuals (p = 0.027). Despite a trend for WNV RNA to persist longer in whole blood from symptomatic subjects, no significant association was found between WNV RNA levels in whole blood and disease outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed that WNV RNA persists in the RBC fraction in whole blood and further suggested that the level of persistence in whole blood may be a reflection of initial viral burden in plasma. The association with blood groups suggests that WNV adherence to RBCs may be mediated by molecules overrepresented at the surface of blood group A RBCs.
authors: Blood Systems Research Institute, San Francisco, California.
authors: Marion C
authors: MC
authors: Lanteri
authors: Tzong-Hae
authors: TH
authors: Lee
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Wen
authors: Zhanna
authors: Z
authors: Kaidarova
authors: Marjorie D
authors: MD
authors: Bravo
authors: Nancy E
authors: NE
authors: Kiely
authors: Hany T
authors: HT
authors: Kamel
authors: Leslie H
authors: LH
authors: Tobler
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Norris
authors: Michael P
authors: MP
authors: Busch
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012449:Safety; D019562:Viral Load; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000097:blood*; D014902:West Nile virus
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral