Heat, Cold, Time Needed To Kill Sprochetes
Even when exposed to harsh conditions (heat, cold, long duration) Borrelia spirochetes can still survive outside of their host. This was found to be true with Babesia and Bartonella organisms also.
Transfusion with blood products
Remains a concern for all!
Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes in blood bank conditions
Processed & stored & still survived
QUOTE- "Products were then stored under blood banking conditions and sampled at several storage times. The viability of the spirochete in blood components was determined by darkfield microscopic examination of cultures in modified Kelly's medium. The organism was shown to survive in RBCs (4 degrees C or 39.2 F) and FFP [Fresh-Frozen Plasma] (below -18 degrees C) for 45 days and in PCs [Platelet Concentrates] (20-24 degrees C or 68 to 75.2 F) for 6 days."
Link Here
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2773025
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Borrelia miyamotoi spirochetes in blood bank conditions
Processed & stored & still survived
QUOTE- "In vivo, all the SCID mice challenged with the components before storage and the RBCs stored for up to 42 days developed the infection. Wild-type mice also developed the infection when injected with prestorage samples from all components, while a lower number of mice were infected by RBCs stored for 42 days. In vitro, spirochetes grew in all samples but frozen plasma."
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Bartonella organisms- in blood bank conditions
Processed & stored & still survived
QUOTE- "All units were stored at 4 degrees C (39.2 F) for 35 days. ... Samples were collected on days 1 and 35 and taken for culture in Bact/Alert R blood culture bottles. ... Samples from infected bags successfully isolated B. henselae... The viability of B. henselae was demonstrated after a storage period of RBC units."
Link Here
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18937735
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Babesia organisms- in blood bank conditions
Processed & stored & still survived
QUOTE- "Sixty-seven reports included 256 transfusion cases where donor tested positive for B microti, 165 of which resulted in TTB [transfusion-transmitted Babesia].... TTB cases were predominantly due to red cells (133 of 140 specified units), with red blood cell units processed in a variety of ways and at all storage duration."
Link Here
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27260107
QUOTE- "Babesia divergens was introduced into blood bags containing leukoreduced red blood cells (RBCs) and stored at 4°C (39.2 F) for 0 to 31 days. After 24 hours of storage at 4°C (39.2 F), there was a substantial reduction of parasitemia in the bloodbags, which was maintained throughout storage. This decrease was accompanied by a change in morphology of parasites, with the number of altered parasites increasing through the period of storage.
However, viability was maintained through 31 days of cold storage with a lag in achieving exponential growth seen in the parasites subjected to longer periods of refrigeration. Refrigeration of B. divergens leads to an alteration of parasite morphology and a decrease in parasite numbers. However, there are sufficient parasites that are robust enough to survive 31 days of storage at 4°C (39.2 F) and yield high end-point parasitemia."
Link Here