title: Transmission of Babesia microti Parasites by Solid Organ Transplantation.
abstract: Babesia microti, an intraerythrocytic parasite, is tickborne in nature. In contrast to transmission by blood transfusion, which has been well documented, transmission associated with solid organ transplantation has not been reported. We describe parasitologically confirmed cases of babesiosis diagnosed ≈8 weeks posttransplantation in 2 recipients of renal allografts from an organ donor who was multiply transfused on the day he died from traumatic injuries. The organ donor and recipients had no identified risk factors for tickborne infection. Antibodies against B. microti parasites were not detected by serologic testing of archived pretransplant specimens. However, 1 of the organ donor's blood donors was seropositive when tested postdonation and had risk factors for tick exposure. The organ donor probably served as a conduit of Babesia parasites from the seropositive blood donor to both kidney recipients. Babesiosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of unexplained fever and hemolytic anemia after blood transfusion or organ transplantation.
authors: Meghan B
authors: MB
authors: Brennan
authors: Barbara L
authors: BL
authors: Herwaldt
authors: James J
authors: JJ
authors: Kazmierczak
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Weiss
authors: Christina L
authors: CL
authors: Klein
authors: Catherine P
authors: CP
authors: Leith
authors: Rong
authors: R
authors: He
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Oberley
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Tonnetti
authors: Patricia P
authors: PP
authors: Wilkins
authors: Gregory M
authors: GM
authors: Gauthier
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D041001:Babesia microti / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Babesia microti; Minnesota; United States; Wisconsin; babesiosis; erythrocyte transfusion; hemolytic anemia; human babesiosis; kidney transplant; organ transplantation; parasites; protozoa; tissue donor; vector-borne infections