Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with beta-thalassemia major: a case-control study in Southeastern Iran
Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis could potentially be transmitted via blood transfusions from asymptomatic donors to patients with beta-thalassemia major (BTM) who regularly receive transfusions. Nevertheless, screening for toxoplasmosis prior to blood donation has not been implemented, representin...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11243-4 |
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| author | Mehdi Baloochi Mohammad-Reza Amini Fard Ramin Ordoni Atefeh Pendar Aida Vafae Eslahi Milad Badri Asiyeh Dezhkam Marziyeh Kalkali Hossein-Ali Rahdar Mola Mohammadi Zarineh Sepasi Moslem Javidan Ehsan Ahmadpour Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi |
| author_facet | Mehdi Baloochi Mohammad-Reza Amini Fard Ramin Ordoni Atefeh Pendar Aida Vafae Eslahi Milad Badri Asiyeh Dezhkam Marziyeh Kalkali Hossein-Ali Rahdar Mola Mohammadi Zarineh Sepasi Moslem Javidan Ehsan Ahmadpour Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi |
| author_sort | Mehdi Baloochi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Toxoplasmosis could potentially be transmitted via blood transfusions from asymptomatic donors to patients with beta-thalassemia major (BTM) who regularly receive transfusions. Nevertheless, screening for toxoplasmosis prior to blood donation has not been implemented, representing a significant gap in transfusion safety protocols. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in BTM patients undergoing blood transfusion. Methods The current case-control study was conducted among 270 patients and 90 controls in Southeastern Iran, from September to December 2024. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to detect anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in serum samples. A binomial logistic regression model was employed to analyze the association between toxoplasmosis and its determinants. Results The seropositivity rate for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was 9.3% (25/270) in the patients and 8.9% (8/90) in the controls. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.45–2.41; p = 0.916). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were detected in the patients with a seropositivity rate of 1.5% (4/270). In the controls, the seropositivity rate for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies was 0.0% (0/90). None of the participants’ characteristics were found to be associated with the infection. Conclusion Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected at relatively low seroprevalence rates in both patients and controls. The presence of toxoplasmosis in these patients highlights the critical need for appropriate strategies to reduce the risk of infection, as the population appears to be mostly non-immune. It is essential to implement routine screening of blood for specific antibodies against T. gondii before transfusions in these patients to mitigate the risk of infection. This is the first study assessing the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies among patients with BTM in Southeastern Iran. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ca839e9e958441f68dbf8df5b76cf89b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-ca839e9e958441f68dbf8df5b76cf89b2025-08-20T03:45:22ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-07-012511910.1186/s12879-025-11243-4Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with beta-thalassemia major: a case-control study in Southeastern IranMehdi Baloochi0Mohammad-Reza Amini Fard1Ramin Ordoni2Atefeh Pendar3Aida Vafae Eslahi4Milad Badri5Asiyeh Dezhkam6Marziyeh Kalkali7Hossein-Ali Rahdar8Mola Mohammadi9Zarineh Sepasi10Moslem Javidan11Ehsan Ahmadpour12Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi13Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical SciencesAkbarian Comprehensive Treatment Center for Special Patients, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesMedical Microbiology Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical SciencesMedical Microbiology Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Physiology, School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pathology, School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Immunology and Hematology, School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Toxoplasmosis could potentially be transmitted via blood transfusions from asymptomatic donors to patients with beta-thalassemia major (BTM) who regularly receive transfusions. Nevertheless, screening for toxoplasmosis prior to blood donation has not been implemented, representing a significant gap in transfusion safety protocols. This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in BTM patients undergoing blood transfusion. Methods The current case-control study was conducted among 270 patients and 90 controls in Southeastern Iran, from September to December 2024. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to detect anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in serum samples. A binomial logistic regression model was employed to analyze the association between toxoplasmosis and its determinants. Results The seropositivity rate for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was 9.3% (25/270) in the patients and 8.9% (8/90) in the controls. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 0.45–2.41; p = 0.916). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were detected in the patients with a seropositivity rate of 1.5% (4/270). In the controls, the seropositivity rate for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies was 0.0% (0/90). None of the participants’ characteristics were found to be associated with the infection. Conclusion Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected at relatively low seroprevalence rates in both patients and controls. The presence of toxoplasmosis in these patients highlights the critical need for appropriate strategies to reduce the risk of infection, as the population appears to be mostly non-immune. It is essential to implement routine screening of blood for specific antibodies against T. gondii before transfusions in these patients to mitigate the risk of infection. This is the first study assessing the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies among patients with BTM in Southeastern Iran.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11243-4Toxoplasma gondiiBeta-thalassemia majorBlood transfusionELISA |
| spellingShingle | Mehdi Baloochi Mohammad-Reza Amini Fard Ramin Ordoni Atefeh Pendar Aida Vafae Eslahi Milad Badri Asiyeh Dezhkam Marziyeh Kalkali Hossein-Ali Rahdar Mola Mohammadi Zarineh Sepasi Moslem Javidan Ehsan Ahmadpour Kareem Hatam-Nahavandi Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with beta-thalassemia major: a case-control study in Southeastern Iran BMC Infectious Diseases Toxoplasma gondii Beta-thalassemia major Blood transfusion ELISA |
| title | Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with beta-thalassemia major: a case-control study in Southeastern Iran |
| title_full | Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with beta-thalassemia major: a case-control study in Southeastern Iran |
| title_fullStr | Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with beta-thalassemia major: a case-control study in Southeastern Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with beta-thalassemia major: a case-control study in Southeastern Iran |
| title_short | Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with beta-thalassemia major: a case-control study in Southeastern Iran |
| title_sort | seroepidemiology of toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with beta thalassemia major a case control study in southeastern iran |
| topic | Toxoplasma gondii Beta-thalassemia major Blood transfusion ELISA |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11243-4 |
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