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Transfusion-transmitted and community-acquired babesiosis in New York, 2004 to 2015.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Linden, JV; Prusinski, MA; Crowder, LA; Tonnetti, L; Stramer, SL; Kessler, DA; White, J; Shaz, B; Olkowska, D
Published in: Transfusion
March 2018

BACKGROUND: Babesiosis is a potentially life-threatening zoonotic infection most frequently caused by the intraerythrocytic parasite Babesia microti. The pathogen is usually tickborne, but may also be transfusion or vertically transmitted. Healthy persons, including blood donors, may be asymptomatic and unaware they are infected. Immunocompromised patients are at increased risk for symptomatic disease. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: All reported community-acquired babesiosis cases in New York from 2004 to 2015 were evaluated, enumerated, and characterized. All potential transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB) cases reported through one or more of three public health surveillance systems were investigated to determine the likelihood of transfusion transmission. In addition, host-seeking ticks were actively collected in public parks and other likely sites of human exposure to B. microti. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2015, a total of 3799 cases of babesiosis were found; 55 (1.4%) of these were linked to transfusion. The incidence of both community-acquired babesiosis and TTB increased significantly during the 12-year study period. The geographic range of both ticks and tickborne infections also expanded. Among TTB cases, 95% of recipients had at least one risk factor for symptomatic disease. Implicated donors resided in five states, including in 10 New York counties. More than half of implicated donors resided in counties known to be B. microti endemic. CONCLUSION: The increasing incidence of TTB correlated with increases in community-acquired babesiosis and infection of ticks with B. microti. Surveillance of ticks and community-acquired cases may aid identification of emerging areas at risk for Babesia transfusion transmission.

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Published In

Transfusion

DOI

EISSN

1537-2995

Publication Date

March 2018

Volume

58

Issue

3

Start / End Page

660 / 668

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • New York
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Community-Acquired Infections
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology
  • Blood-Borne Pathogens
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Babesiosis
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Linden, J. V., Prusinski, M. A., Crowder, L. A., Tonnetti, L., Stramer, S. L., Kessler, D. A., … Olkowska, D. (2018). Transfusion-transmitted and community-acquired babesiosis in New York, 2004 to 2015. Transfusion, 58(3), 660–668. https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.14476
Linden, Jeanne V., Melissa A. Prusinski, Lauren A. Crowder, Laura Tonnetti, Susan L. Stramer, Debra A. Kessler, Jennifer White, Beth Shaz, and Danuta Olkowska. “Transfusion-transmitted and community-acquired babesiosis in New York, 2004 to 2015.Transfusion 58, no. 3 (March 2018): 660–68. https://doi.org/10.1111/trf.14476.
Linden JV, Prusinski MA, Crowder LA, Tonnetti L, Stramer SL, Kessler DA, et al. Transfusion-transmitted and community-acquired babesiosis in New York, 2004 to 2015. Transfusion. 2018 Mar;58(3):660–8.
Linden, Jeanne V., et al. “Transfusion-transmitted and community-acquired babesiosis in New York, 2004 to 2015.Transfusion, vol. 58, no. 3, Mar. 2018, pp. 660–68. Pubmed, doi:10.1111/trf.14476.
Linden JV, Prusinski MA, Crowder LA, Tonnetti L, Stramer SL, Kessler DA, White J, Shaz B, Olkowska D. Transfusion-transmitted and community-acquired babesiosis in New York, 2004 to 2015. Transfusion. 2018 Mar;58(3):660–668.
Journal cover image

Published In

Transfusion

DOI

EISSN

1537-2995

Publication Date

March 2018

Volume

58

Issue

3

Start / End Page

660 / 668

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • New York
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Community-Acquired Infections
  • Cardiovascular System & Hematology
  • Blood-Borne Pathogens
  • Blood Transfusion
  • Babesiosis