title: A study of seroprevalence and rates of asymptomatic viremia of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus among Chinese blood donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), an emerging tick-borne pathogen that can cause fatal severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome, was first identified in China in 2009. Limited evidence suggests that SFTSV can be transmitted between humans via blood contact, raising concerns over transfusion safety. A study of donor samples from three Chinese blood centers was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and rate of SFTSV viremia among Chinese blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From April 16 to October 31, 2012, a total of 17,208 plasma samples were collected from donors at Xinyang (located in an SFTSV-endemic area), Mianyang, and Luoyang Blood Centers. Assessment of anti-SFTSV total antibody was performed on all samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Repeat-reactive samples were tested for SFTSV RNA using reverse transcription (RT)-real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with Taqman probes. In addition, 9960 of the Xinyang samples were tested in pools of 4 by the same PCR method and each of the samples in a reactive pool was tested individually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Donor seroreactivity rates were as follows: Xinyang, 0.54% (80/14,752); Mianyang, 0.27% (3/1130); and Luoyang, 0.28% (3/1326). All seroreactive samples were negative on RT-PCR single-sample testing. Two RT-PCR-reactive donor samples were identified, both with estimated viral load of less than 20 plaque-forming units/mL. The RNA prevalence rate for SFTSV among donors in Xinyang was 0.02%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was the first multiregion study of SFTSV sero- and viral prevalence among Chinese blood donors. Viral prevalence was low and no seroreactive sample was viremic, suggesting a limited impact of SFTSV on blood safety in China.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Peibin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Zhan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Jingxing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Xinyang Blood Center, Xinyang, China.
authors.forename: Xianwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Xinyang Blood Center, Xinyang, China.
authors.forename: Qizhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Mianyang Blood Center, Mianyang, China.
authors.forename: Ruan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Mianyang Blood Center, Mianyang, China.
authors.forename: Xiuqiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Luoyang Blood Center, Luoyang, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Luoyang Blood Center, Luoyang, China.
authors.forename: Hongli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Xinyang 154 Military Hospital, Xinyang, China.
authors.forename: Zhendong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Blood System Research Institute, San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Tzong-Hae
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brambilla
authors.affiliation: RTI International, Rockville, Maryland.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: NHLBI, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glynn
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ness
authors.affiliation: The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kleinman
authors.affiliation: Xinyang 154 Military Hospital, Xinyang, China.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D002681:China; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult