Browsing by Subject "Blood donors"

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    Exposure to Phlebotomus perniciosus sandfly vectors is positively associated with Toscana virus and Leishmania infantum infection in human blood donors in Murcia Region, southeast Spain
    (Wiley, 2022-03-08) Ortuño, María; Muñoz Hernández, Clara; Spitzová, Tatiana; Sumova, Petra; Iborra Bendicho, Maria Asunción; Pérez Cutillas, Pedro; Ayhan, Nazli; Charrel, Remi N.; Volf, Petro; Berriatua Fernández de Larrea, Eduardo; Sin departamento asociado
    Antibodies against Phlebotomus perniciosus sandfly salivary gland homogenate (SGH) and recombinant protein rSP03B, sandfly-borne Toscana virus (TOSV), Sandfly Fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) and Leishmania, as well as DNA of the latter parasite, were investigated in 670 blood samples from 575 human donors in Murcia Region, southeast Spain, in 2017 and 2018. The estimated SGH and rSP03B seroprevalences were 69% and 88%, respectively, although correlation between test results was relatively low (ρ = 0.39). Similarly, TOSV, SFSV and Leishmania seroprevalences were 26%, 0% and 1%, respectively, and Leishmania PCR prevalence was 2%. Prevalences were significantly greater in 2017, overdispersed and not spatially related to each other although both were positively associated with SGH but not to rSP03B antibody optical densities, questioning the value of the latter as a diagnostic marker for these infections in humans.
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    Spatial distribution of human asymptomatic Leishmania infantum infection in southeast Spain: a study of environmental, demographic and social risk factors
    (Elsevier, 2015-03-20) Pérez Cutillas, Pedro; Goyena Salgado, Elena; Chitimia Dobler, Lidia; Rúa Tarín, Pilar de la; Bernal Gambín, Luis Jesús; Fisa, Roser; Riera, Cristina Ferri; Iborra Bendicho, Maria Asunción; Murcia, Laura; Segovia Hernández, Manuel; Berriatua Fernández de Larrea, Eduardo; Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparada; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Veterinaria
    Recent PCR studies indicate that asymptomatic L. infantum infection is common in people in southern Europe. Understanding its spatial distribution is a requisite to evaluate the public health implications and to design disease control schemes. We investigated infection in blood samples from 657 donors in southeast Spain using PCR and antibody ELISA. They came from 19 blood centers and were interviewed about their residence, occupation, dog ownership and Leishmaniosis awareness. The percentage of PCR and ELISA positives were 8% (49/618) and 2% (13/657). Donor's residences were spatially clustered around blood donning centers and PCR prevalence was 18% in rural municipalities with 20–1330 inhabitants, 12% in those with 1467–5088 inhabitants and 3% in larger communities, and was associated with dog ownership (p < 0.05). Further analysis of data from rural donors indicated that PCR status was strongly related to the climate, altitude and soil type in the donor's residence area and not to other demographic or sociologic variables. Mixed logistic regression analysis predicted PCR prevalence to be greatest in the 200–300 m altitude range with a mean spring–summer (time of highest vector activity) temperature of 18.4–19.0 °C. A temperature and altitude risk map was generated that will provide the basis for elaborating evidence-based vector surveillance studies.