West Nile virus nucleic acid persistence in whole blood months after clearance in plasma: implication for transfusion and transplantation safety. Issue 12 (26th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lanteri, Marion C.; Lee, Tzong‐Hae; Wen, Li; Kaidarova, Zhanna; Bravo, Marjorie D.; Kiely, Nancy E.; Kamel, Hany T.; Tobler, Leslie H.; Norris, Philip J.; Busch, Michael P.
• Is Part Of: Transfusion. Volume 54:Issue 12(2014)
• Page Start: 3232
• Page End: 3241
• Publication Date: 2014-06-26
• Subjects: Hematology -- Periodicals; Blood -- Transfusion -- Periodicals; Blood Group Antigens -- Periodicals; Blood Preservation -- Periodicals; Blood Transfusion -- Periodicals; 615
• DOI: 10.1111/trf.12764
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0041-1132

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="trf12764-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Previous reports of West Nile virus (WNV) RNA persistence in blood compartments have raised concerns around the remaining risk of WNV transfusion transmission. This study characterized the dynamics of WNV viremia in blood compartments in a longitudinal cohort of 54 WNV‐infected blood donors.</p> </sec> <sec id="trf12764-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Study Design and Methods</title> <p>Blood samples were collected throughout the year after WNV RNA–positive blood donation (index) and characterized for WNV immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG antibodies and for WNV RNA by real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. WNV viral loads were compared in plasma and whole blood samples and correlated with blood groups and clinical outcomes.</p> </sec> <sec id="trf12764-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>WNV RNA persisted in the red blood cell (RBC) compartment up to 3 months postindex in 42% of the donors. Donors with the highest WNV RNA levels in plasma at index maintained the highest WNV RNA levels in whole blood over the 3 months postindex. Blood group A donors maintained higher postindex WNV viral load in whole blood than blood group O individuals (p = 0.027). Despite a trend for WNV RNA to persist longer in whole blood from symptomatic subjects, no significant association was found between WNV RNA levels in whole blood and disease outcome.</p> </sec> <sec id="trf12764-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>This study confirmed that WNV RNA persists in the RBC fraction in whole blood and further suggested that the level of persistence in whole blood may be a reflection of initial viral burden in plasma. The association with blood groups suggests that WNV adherence to RBCs may be mediated by molecules overrepresented at the surface of blood group A RBCs.</p> </sec> </abstract>