Toxoplasma gondii in Blood Donors: A Study in Boyer-Ahmad County, Southwest Iran

Toxoplasma gondii is an important foodborne protozoan that can be transmitted through infected blood containing tachyzoite form of the parasite. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii infection and related risk factors among healthy blood donors in Boyer-Ahmad County, southw...

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Main Authors: Abdolali Moshfe, Nasir Arefkhah, Bahador Sarkari, Saadat Kazemi, Ahmad Mardani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3813612
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author Abdolali Moshfe
Nasir Arefkhah
Bahador Sarkari
Saadat Kazemi
Ahmad Mardani
author_facet Abdolali Moshfe
Nasir Arefkhah
Bahador Sarkari
Saadat Kazemi
Ahmad Mardani
author_sort Abdolali Moshfe
collection DOAJ
description Toxoplasma gondii is an important foodborne protozoan that can be transmitted through infected blood containing tachyzoite form of the parasite. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii infection and related risk factors among healthy blood donors in Boyer-Ahmad County, southwest Iran. Blood samples were taken from 285 healthy blood donors who voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. Sera and buffy coat were isolated from the blood samples for serological and molecular evaluations. The sera were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies (both IgG and IgM), using a commercial ELISA kit. The buffy coat of seropositive cases was evaluated for detection of T. gondii DNA by PCR. Moreover, a structured questionnaire, containing socioepidemiological data and possible risk factors, was filled out by each participant during sample collection. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in sera of 48/285 (16.8%) participants. Only two of the subjects (0.7%) were seropositive for both IgG and IgM antibodies. T. gondii DNA was not detected in buffy coat of any of the seropositive cases. Risk factors such as contact with soil (OR, 9.7; 95% CI, 4.9–19.4) and consumption of semicooked meat (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2–5.03) were statistically associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. The seroprevalence rate of T. gondii antibodies in the blood donors of Boyer-Ahmad County was not high in comparison with other regions in Iran. In this study, consumption of undercooked meats, job, and contact with soil were independent risk factors associated with T. gondii infection, which can be considered as potential sources of T. gondii infection.
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spelling doaj-art-917ef98e1cd843678d27338ca49f5f3f2025-08-20T02:10:03ZengWileyInterdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases1687-708X1687-70982018-01-01201810.1155/2018/38136123813612Toxoplasma gondii in Blood Donors: A Study in Boyer-Ahmad County, Southwest IranAbdolali Moshfe0Nasir Arefkhah1Bahador Sarkari2Saadat Kazemi3Ahmad Mardani4Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, IranDepartment of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranDepartment of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranCellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, IranBlood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), Tehran, IranToxoplasma gondii is an important foodborne protozoan that can be transmitted through infected blood containing tachyzoite form of the parasite. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii infection and related risk factors among healthy blood donors in Boyer-Ahmad County, southwest Iran. Blood samples were taken from 285 healthy blood donors who voluntarily agreed to participate in this study. Sera and buffy coat were isolated from the blood samples for serological and molecular evaluations. The sera were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies (both IgG and IgM), using a commercial ELISA kit. The buffy coat of seropositive cases was evaluated for detection of T. gondii DNA by PCR. Moreover, a structured questionnaire, containing socioepidemiological data and possible risk factors, was filled out by each participant during sample collection. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in sera of 48/285 (16.8%) participants. Only two of the subjects (0.7%) were seropositive for both IgG and IgM antibodies. T. gondii DNA was not detected in buffy coat of any of the seropositive cases. Risk factors such as contact with soil (OR, 9.7; 95% CI, 4.9–19.4) and consumption of semicooked meat (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2–5.03) were statistically associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. The seroprevalence rate of T. gondii antibodies in the blood donors of Boyer-Ahmad County was not high in comparison with other regions in Iran. In this study, consumption of undercooked meats, job, and contact with soil were independent risk factors associated with T. gondii infection, which can be considered as potential sources of T. gondii infection.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3813612
spellingShingle Abdolali Moshfe
Nasir Arefkhah
Bahador Sarkari
Saadat Kazemi
Ahmad Mardani
Toxoplasma gondii in Blood Donors: A Study in Boyer-Ahmad County, Southwest Iran
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
title Toxoplasma gondii in Blood Donors: A Study in Boyer-Ahmad County, Southwest Iran
title_full Toxoplasma gondii in Blood Donors: A Study in Boyer-Ahmad County, Southwest Iran
title_fullStr Toxoplasma gondii in Blood Donors: A Study in Boyer-Ahmad County, Southwest Iran
title_full_unstemmed Toxoplasma gondii in Blood Donors: A Study in Boyer-Ahmad County, Southwest Iran
title_short Toxoplasma gondii in Blood Donors: A Study in Boyer-Ahmad County, Southwest Iran
title_sort toxoplasma gondii in blood donors a study in boyer ahmad county southwest iran
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3813612
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