We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Emerging Blood-Borne Bacteria Found in Blood Donors

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 04 Apr 2016
Print article
Image: Electron micrograph of Bartonella henelae, Gram-negative bacteria that causes cat scratch fever (Photo courtesy of the Prokaryotes).
Image: Electron micrograph of Bartonella henelae, Gram-negative bacteria that causes cat scratch fever (Photo courtesy of the Prokaryotes).
Image: Stained Bartonella bacilliformis in a blood film of an Oroyo fever infected human (Photo courtesy of the Prokaryotes).
Image: Stained Bartonella bacilliformis in a blood film of an Oroyo fever infected human (Photo courtesy of the Prokaryotes).
Bartonella species cause chronic and intermittent intra-erythrocytic bacteremia and infect endothelial cells of both incidental and natural reservoir hosts. The establishment of chronic, stealth infection is achieved by evasion of innate immune responses.

In humans, Bartonella species have been detected from sick patients presented with diverse disease manifestations, including cat scratch disease, trench fever, bacillary angiomatosis, endocarditis, polyarthritis, or granulomatous inflammatory disease.

An international team of scientists, led by those at the Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA), collected blood from 500 apparently healthy Brazilian voluntary blood donors in a cross sectional study. Bartonella species infection from the bloodstream was detected based on enrichment blood culture in a liquid growth medium (Bartonella alpha-Proteobacteria growth medium-BAPGM), coupled with isolation in solid medium. Bartonella-specific DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by DNA sequencing to confirm species identification. Of the ten Bartonella species that are believed to produce infection in humans, the most commonly encountered are B. henselae, B. quintana, and B. bacilliformis. The latter causes Oroya fever and Verruga peruana.

Bartonella species bloodstream infection was detected in 16/500 blood donors (3.2%). DNA amplification and sequencing identified B. henselae in 15 blood donors (3%) and B. clarridgeiae in one donor (0.2%). B. henselae bacteremia was also confirmed in six donors by bacterial isolation. Adjusted odds ratio indicated that subjects with cat contact, or past history of tick bite, were approximately three to four times more likely to have a Bartonella species infection than donors without cat contact or lack of history of tick bite.

The authors concluded that the risk factors of cat contact or tick bites should be considered during donor screening, as bacteremia by these Bartonella species may not be detected by traditional laboratory screening methods, and it may be transmitted by blood transfusion. The study was published on March 21, 2016, in the journal Public Library of Science Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Related Links:

Western University of Health Sciences


New
Gold Member
ANA & ENA Screening Assays
ANA and ENA Assays
Automated Blood Typing System
IH-500 NEXT
New
Cortisol/Cortisone Saliva Controls
MassCheck Chromsystems Saliva Controls
New
Repeater Pipette
CAPPR10 Repeater Pipette

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The new saliva-based test for heart failure measures two biomarkers in about 15 minutes (Photo courtesy of Trey Pittman)

POC Saliva Testing Device Predicts Heart Failure in 15 Minutes

Heart failure is a serious condition where the heart muscle is unable to pump sufficient oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It ranks as a major cause of death globally and is particularly fatal for... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: Under a microscope, DNA repair is visible as bright green spots (“foci”) in the blue-stained cell DNA. Orange highlights actively growing cancer cells (Photo courtesy of WEHI)

Simple Blood Test Could Detect Drug Resistance in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Every year, hundreds of thousands of women across the world are diagnosed with ovarian and breast cancer. PARP inhibitors (PARPi) therapy has been a major advancement in treating these cancers, particularly... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: HNL Dimer can be a novel and potentially useful clinical tool in antibiotic stewardship in sepsis (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Unique Blood Biomarker Shown to Effectively Monitor Sepsis Treatment

Sepsis remains a growing problem across the world, linked to high rates of mortality and morbidity. Timely and accurate diagnosis, along with effective supportive therapy, is essential in reducing sepsis-related... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.