FLORA INFEKSIYON HASTALIKLARI VE KLINIK MIKROBIYOLOJI DERGISI, cilt.25, sa.1, ss.33-39, 2020 (ESCI)
Introduction: Transfusion-related infections are usually caused by a microbial pathogen transmitted to the recipient by the donated blood. Plasmodium spp., Trypanosoma cruzi, Babesia microti, Toxoplasma gondii and Leishmania spp. are listed as the most widely reported transfusion-transmitted parasites. Leishmaniasis is well known as an endemic in Mediterranean countries including Turkey. Accordingly, detection of asymptomatic Leishmania infantum carriage in blood donors is an important issue in Turkey. In endemic teretories, research on blood donors is under-represented in Turkey. Likewise, Mersin province is also endemic for Leishmaniasis. Up to date, no studies have been conducted to detect Leishmaniasis in healthy blood donors in our region. Therefore, the main objective of the current study was to reveal the seroprevalance of asymptomatic Leishmania carriage among the blood donors in Mersin province.