Experimental transfusion-induced Babesia microti infection: dynamics of parasitemia and immune responses in a rhesus macaque model.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne infection in humans. The increasing numbers of reported cases of transfusion-associated babesiosis (TAB), primarily caused by Babesia microti, represents a concern for the safety of the US blood supply.

Study design and methods

This study investigated kinetics of parasitemia and innate immune responses and dynamics of antibody responses during B. microti infection in rhesus macaques (RMs) using blood smears, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), flow cytometry, and indirect fluorescent antibody testing. A total of six monkeys were transfused with either hamster or monkey-passaged B. microti-infected red blood cells (two and four monkeys, respectively) simulating TAB.

Results

The prepatent period in monkeys inocu

SUBMITTER: Gumber S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4905818 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature