@article {4598,
	title = {Plasmodium genome in blood donors at risk for malaria after several years of residence in Italy},
	volume = {54},
	year = {2014},
	month = {Oct},
	pages = {19},
	abstract = {BACKGROUND:

At present, the main risk of transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) in nonendemic countries is chronic, asymptomatic immigrants from malaria-endemic areas. Semi-immune donors may carry undetected parasitemia. This study examines Plasmodium infection in at-risk blood donors in Northern Italy.
STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:

Plasma samples from 97 candidate donors and 80 controls were tested for malarial antibodies using a commercial enzyme immunoassay. The conserved 18S rRNA and the mitochondrial genes of Plasmodium were amplified to detect and quantify parasite genomes (copies/mL). Plasmodium species were identified with a species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction. Parasitemic samples were further tested by amplification of polymorphic repetitive regions in MSP-1 Block 2, MSP-2 Block 3, and glutamate-rich protein (GLURP) confirmed by sequencing.
RESULTS:

Three of 83 seropositive (3.6\%) and one of 14 seronegative at-risk candidate donors carried Plasmodium genome (4 {\texttimes} 10(3) -8.5 {\texttimes} 10(4) copies/mL): two P. falciparum, one P. malariae (seronegative sample), and one coinfection with P. malariae and P. ovale. Alleles of MSP-1 (MAD20 and K1), MSP-2 (3D7 and FC27), and GLURP were amplified from Sample 261. In Sample 282 only one allele in MSP-2 (FC27) and GLURP was amplified. No alleles were detected in Samples 283 and 331.
CONCLUSIONS:

Immigrants from endemic countries might carry infectious Plasmodium after 2 to 5 years of continuous residence in Italy. Serologic screening may miss donors carrying P. malariae. Permanent exclusion or screening for both antibodies and genome are needed to prevent TTM.},
	doi = {10.1111/trf.12650},
	author = {Assennato, SM}
}
