Zika Virus and Related Arbovirus Infections in Deferred Blood Donors (ZVADD)

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an Aedes species mosquito-transmitted Flavivirus responsible for an ongoing epidemic in over twenty countries and territories in the Caribbean, and in North, Central and South America. A 20-fold increased risk of microcephaly has been reported in newborns of infected mothers in Brazil. Of nine identified pregnant travelers returning to the U.S. from areas with local ZIKV infection, five have experienced severe neonatal outcomes.

ZIKV can be transmitted via blood transfusion and by sexual exposure to a ZIKV-infected man. In response, AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) made recommendations and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance for donor deferral based on 1) travel to locations with active ZIKV transmission; or for 2) sexual exposure to a man who has traveled to an area with active ZIKV transmission. Further, Aedes species mosquito vectors that transmit ZIKV also transmit dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Areas with local ZIKV transmission also commonly have local DENV and CHIKV transmission. DENV and CHIKV are transmissible via blood transfusion and can result in severe outcomes in transfusion recipients.

The primary aims of this study are to: 1) assess the prevalence of ZIKV, DENV and CHIKV infection (RNA-positives) among adults who attempted to donate blood but were deferred because of travel to places with local transmission of ZIKV, DENV and/or CHIKV (travel-deferred donors); 2) assess the prevalence of ZIKV infection (RNA-positives) among adults who attempted to donate blood who were deferred due to potential sexual exposure to ZIKV infection; 3) assess the prevalence of ZIKV, DENV and CHIKV infection (RNA-positives) among blood donors whose blood or platelets were collected and who called back to report any illness within 2 weeks of donation; and to 4) study the 24-week natural history of ZIKV, DENV and CHIKV infection among deferred adult donors who tested RNA-positive for any of these agents.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• Adults who traveled within the past month to places with local transmission of ZIKV, DENV and/or CHIKV who would otherwise be eligible to donate blood;
• Volunteer adult blood donors or potential blood donors who are deferred from blood donation because they tested positive for Zika virus.
• Volunteer adult blood and platelet donors (blood donors) who present to the NIH Clinical Center Department of Transfusion Medicine (DTM) and the Fishers Lane Donor Center are eligible for study enrollment if they:

• Are deferred because of travel to an area with active ZIKV transmission within the past 4 weeks; or
• Are deferred because of sexual contact during the past 4 weeks with a sexual partner who traveled to an area with active ZIKV transmission in the 3 months prior to that instance of sexual contact; or
• Are deferred because of travel to a malaria-endemic area; and returned from the area in the past month; or
• Have donated blood or platelets AND within 2 weeks of donation they called the NIH DTM or Fishers Lane Donor Centers to report any signs or symptoms of infection, AND they traveled to an area with active transmission of ZIKV, DENV or CHIKV within the past 4 weeks (from symptom onset); OR had sexual contact within the past 4 weeks (from symptom onset) with a sexual partner who traveled to an area with active ZIKV transmission in the 3 months prior to that instance of sexual contact.

Exclusion criteria

Potential donors who do not meet the inclusion criteria are excluded. Potential donors under 18 years of age, paid or research blood donors and pregnant women are excluded from enrollment. Children are not eligible to donate blood without parental consent and the frequency of number of follow-up visits places an undue burden on school age children. Paid or research blood donors are not representative of the normal blood donor population. Pregnant women are not eligible to donate blood.