Viability of Leishmania in blood donors: A tangible possibility of transfusion transmission

Abstract

Asymptomatic individuals apparently able for blood donation, could be infected with Leishmania imposing risks for immunologically vulnerable recipients. Reverse transcribed conventional PCR targeting the 28S ribosomal subunit was conducted, in order to confirm the viability of the parasite in blood donors positive for Leishmania infection. Keywords: Blood transfusion, Donors, Infection, Parasitic viability