Seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern Iran

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite which can be transmitted to human through a variety of routes including blood transfusion. This cross sectional study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection and related epidemiological features among healthy blood donors....

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Main Authors: Bahador Sarkari, Reza Shafiei, Mani Zare, Sattar Sohrabpour, Leila Kasraian
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2014-04-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3831
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author Bahador Sarkari
Reza Shafiei
Mani Zare
Sattar Sohrabpour
Leila Kasraian
author_facet Bahador Sarkari
Reza Shafiei
Mani Zare
Sattar Sohrabpour
Leila Kasraian
author_sort Bahador Sarkari
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite which can be transmitted to human through a variety of routes including blood transfusion. This cross sectional study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection and related epidemiological features among healthy blood donors. Methodology: A total of 1,480 healthy blood donors from five blood service centers in Fars province were analyzed for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Blood samples were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by enzyme immunoassay. IgM-positive samples were also tested for the presence of Toxoplasma DNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Demographic characteristics of participants were also recorded during samples collection. Results: Anti T. gondii antibodies were detected in sera of 286 out of 1,480 blood donors corresponding to an overall seroprevalence of 19.3% in this population.  From these, 182 (12.3%) were seropositive only for IgG, 81 (5.47%) were seropositive only for IgM and 23 (1.6%) were positive for both IgG and IgM. PCR detected active parasitemia in two (1.9%) of the IgM-positive subjects. Age, place of residence and level of education were statistically significant (p < 0.05) with seropositivity to Toxoplasma. Conclusions: Our results highlighted that asymptomatic blood donors, especially those with active parasitemia, may constitute a significant risk of transmitting toxoplasmosis to susceptible recipients.
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spelling doaj-art-b441e09d232d4e5da673118f5ad1b9512025-08-20T02:27:20ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802014-04-0180410.3855/jidc.3831Seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern IranBahador Sarkari0Reza Shafiei1Mani Zare2Sattar Sohrabpour3Leila Kasraian4Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranSchool of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranSchool of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranSchool of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranShiraz Blood Transfusion Organization, Shiraz, IranIntroduction: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite which can be transmitted to human through a variety of routes including blood transfusion. This cross sectional study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection and related epidemiological features among healthy blood donors. Methodology: A total of 1,480 healthy blood donors from five blood service centers in Fars province were analyzed for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Blood samples were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by enzyme immunoassay. IgM-positive samples were also tested for the presence of Toxoplasma DNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Demographic characteristics of participants were also recorded during samples collection. Results: Anti T. gondii antibodies were detected in sera of 286 out of 1,480 blood donors corresponding to an overall seroprevalence of 19.3% in this population.  From these, 182 (12.3%) were seropositive only for IgG, 81 (5.47%) were seropositive only for IgM and 23 (1.6%) were positive for both IgG and IgM. PCR detected active parasitemia in two (1.9%) of the IgM-positive subjects. Age, place of residence and level of education were statistically significant (p < 0.05) with seropositivity to Toxoplasma. Conclusions: Our results highlighted that asymptomatic blood donors, especially those with active parasitemia, may constitute a significant risk of transmitting toxoplasmosis to susceptible recipients. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3831Toxoplasma gondiiblood donorsseroprevalence
spellingShingle Bahador Sarkari
Reza Shafiei
Mani Zare
Sattar Sohrabpour
Leila Kasraian
Seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern Iran
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Toxoplasma gondii
blood donors
seroprevalence
title Seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern Iran
title_full Seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern Iran
title_fullStr Seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern Iran
title_full_unstemmed Seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern Iran
title_short Seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern Iran
title_sort seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern iran
topic Toxoplasma gondii
blood donors
seroprevalence
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/3831
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AT rezashafiei seroprevalenceandmoleculardiagnosisoftoxoplasmagondiiinfectionamongblooddonorsinsoutherniran
AT manizare seroprevalenceandmoleculardiagnosisoftoxoplasmagondiiinfectionamongblooddonorsinsoutherniran
AT sattarsohrabpour seroprevalenceandmoleculardiagnosisoftoxoplasmagondiiinfectionamongblooddonorsinsoutherniran
AT leilakasraian seroprevalenceandmoleculardiagnosisoftoxoplasmagondiiinfectionamongblooddonorsinsoutherniran