Research progress on parasitic infections via blood transfusion: epidemiology and prevention measures

Abstract

Parasitic infection has the characteristics of both endemic and infectious diseases, and its incidence is regional and has the attribute of transmission. Although the incidence of parasitic infection due to blood transfusion is low, it is still reported in developing countries and regions. With the development of society and economy, the travel of blood donors between different countries or regions increases, and the chances of blood recipients being exposed to parasitic infections also increase. Research on transfusion-transmitted parasites is limited compared to transfusion-transmitted viruses and bacteria. Serologic testing is not available in most countries to screen blood donors for transfusion-borne parasites such as Plasmodium, Babesia, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania, Toxoplasma gondii and Microfilariae. In order to have a more comprehensive understanding of transfusion-transmitted parasites, this paper reviews the current situation of transfusion-transmitted parasites from the perspectives of epidemiological characteristics, detection techniques, and prevention and control methods of transfusion-transmitted parasites.

Keywords

• parasitic infections
• blood transfusion safety
• transfusion transmissible infections