Babesia, a tickborne parasite of red blood cells, is being transmitted through blood transfusions, according to results of a collaborative study, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of data from the past three decades. Transfusion�associated cases of babesiosis have been increasingly recognized since 1979, the year the first known case occurred.
The article about the study and an accompanying editorial appear today online in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
In the report, CDC and collaborators describe 159 transfusion�related babesiosis cases that occurred during 1979�2009, most (77 percent) from 2000 to 2009. No Babesia test approved by the Food and Drug Administration is available for screening prospective blood donors, who can feel fine despite being infected.
Babesiosis is a potentially fatal but treatable complication of transfusion. Severe consequences, such as multi�organ failure and death, are most often seen in persons without a spleen, the elderly, and those with a weak immune system. The study authors say prevention strategies, including development of a screening test, are needed. Some manufacturers are working with investigators at blood establishments to develop FDA�approved tests for Babesia for donor�screening purposes.
�We want clinicians to become more aware of babesiosis, including the small possibility of transmission via blood transfusion,� says Barbara Herwaldt, M.D., M.P.H., CDC medical epidemiologist, and lead author of the article. �If a patient develops unexplained fever or hemolytic anemia after a transfusion, babesiosis should be considered as a possible cause, regardless of the season or U.S. region.�
Because babesiosis is spread most commonly by ticks, the risk of this disease is another reason for people to prevent tick bites. People who unknowingly become infected through the bite of a tiny tick (about the size of a poppy seed) can transmit the parasite via blood transfusion. Therefore, prevention of tickborne infection can help safeguard the blood supply.
Most U.S. tickborne Babesia cases have occurred in seven states in the Northeast and the upper Midwest (in parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin), particularly during the warm months of the year. However, transfusion�associatedBabesia cases have been identified in 19 states and have occurred year�round.
Dr. Herwaldt points out that even severe Babesia cases, not just cases that are asymptomatic or mild, are easily missed unless the diagnosis is considered. Even then, babesiosis often is mistakenly diagnosed as malaria, which also infects red blood cells.
In January 2011, babesiosis became a nationally notifiable disease, which means state health departments are encouraged to share information about cases of babesiosis with CDC. More accurate information about tickborne and transfusion�transmitted cases of babesiosis will help CDC and its partners, including the Food and Drug Administration, in their continued efforts to make the blood supply even safer.
Rivendell
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19922
posted
Why don't they become LYME AWARE?!
Posts: 1358 | From Midwest | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
17hens
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 23747
posted
I'm so glad there's no Babesia in PA. We've got nothing to worry about here...
-------------------- "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalms 73:26
bit 4/09, diagnosed 1/10 Posts: 3043 | From PA | Registered: Dec 2009
| IP: Logged |
manybites
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33750
posted
You are so right about it .When I took my second blood transfusion I felt somthing wrong in my kidney.I am afraid that the second bag was infected and that is the reason I told them to hold on blood transfusion as I did not wanted to get a new infection knowing this article a while ago.I am afraid that I got something from the second bag but I have had no choice as my wbc and rbc were the lowest that they have ever had in hospital and was no way for me to come out alive without taking it.
Active babesia and a bag infected and you are DUMMED.Like in my case.Could not get up for 6 srtaight months.Walked in hospital and came out in wheelchair.
Posts: 1379 | From disable | Registered: Aug 2011
| IP: Logged |
WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
ha, ha, same here in Virginia. The lack of recognition of the true scope of the problem is glaring, but I guess it's a start.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic