TRANSMISSION OF PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM BY ALLOGENEIC BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

We describe a case of Plasmodium falciparum infection in a Comorian pa tient undergoing BMT. The patient's last visit to an endemic area was 1 year prior to BMT. The donor left the Comoro Islands 2 months before marrow harvesting, They had both had previous episodes of malaria and were seropositive for Plasmodium falciparum. At the time of BMT, bloo d smears were negative in both the donor and recipient, On day 12 post -BMT the patient was asymptomatic but a blood smear revealed 12.5% par asitemia, We consider that donors and recipients at risk pre-BMT shoul d routinely be given specific treatment before marrow harvesting and c onditioning, independent of the appearance of blood smears.