title: A Case of Possible Chagas Transmission by Blood Transfusion in Switzerland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transfusion-transmitted Chagas disease has been reported from endemic countries in Latin America. Switzerland is a non-endemic country but high prevalence of antibodies againstTrypanosoma cruziwas found among immigrants. Immigrants may participate in blood donation; therefore, risk-adapted anti-T. cruziscreening for blood donors was implemented in Switzerland in 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2013 and July 2015, 1 out of 1,183 at-risk donors, tested at Blood Transfusion Service Zurich, was found anti-T. cruziIgG-positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Out of 54 donations given by the index donor (ID), we identified 77 blood products which were delivered to hospitals. Archived serum samples from the donations given during the prior 5 years were available for retrospective testing. All samples from ID revealed positive findings for anti-T. cruziIgG. Donor-triggered look-back procedure identified a 70-year-old male recipient of a platelet concentrate (PC) donated by ID. The recipient succumbed of acuteT. cruziinfection 2 years after transfusion of the PC.
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Service Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ries
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Service Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Komarek
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Service Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: Swissmedic, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amsler
authors.affiliation: Swissmedic, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jutzi
authors.affiliation: Blood Transfusion Service Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Beat M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Frey
keywords: Chagas disease; Donor screening; Transfusion-associated infections; Trypanozoma cruzi