Dados do Trabalho

Título

SEROPREVALENCE OF ASYMPTOMATIC LEISHMANIA INFECTION IN BLOOD DONORS FROM AN ENDEMIC AREA FOR VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

Introdução

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) was traditionally considered a rural disease in northeast Brazil. However, since the 1990s there has been an increase in its incidence in urban areas, accompanied by clinical changes such as the appearance of asymptomatic infections. Identifying these asymptomatic infections poses a challenge for VL control programs. Blood banks can reflect the epidemiological context, as well as assist in the identification and monitoring of these cases.

Objetivo (s)

To determine the prevalence of Leishmania infection in blood donors.

Material e Métodos

This cross-sectional study enrolled voluntary blood donors from a blood bank in Natal, Brazil, between May 7, 2020 and November 19, 2021. Only eligible candidates for blood donation were included. After obtaining written consent, 10 ml blood samples, sociodemographic data and health history were collected. The serum of the participants was tested for anti-Leishmania antibodies using ELISA, and reactive samples were analyzed for Leishmania DNA using PCR.

Resultados e Conclusão

The study included 1,307 blood donors, 63% (n=827) male, with a mean age of 35.2 years. Anti-Leishmania antibody was detected in samples from 115 (8.8%) participants, and Leishmania DNA was detected in 37 (32.2%) of these. Seroreactive donors resided in 15 municipalities in the state, with the highest number of positive cases (n=70) found in Natal, where the positivity rate was 10.1%.These findings suggest that healthy blood donors from an endemic area for VL can be infected with Leishmania, indicating the maintenance of the chain of transmission of this parasite. In addition, this highlights the potential risk of transmission of Leishmania through blood transfusion, since this is evidence reported in several endemic areas worldwide. Moreover, the infection occurs both in individuals residing in the state capital and in those residing in the interior cities, in the latter group, even representing a smaller sample, it is possible to identify the infection.

Palavras-chave

Leishmania. Visceral Leishmaniasis. Blood Donors. Asymptomatic Infection.