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

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondiiis 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 ofT. gondiiinfection 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. gondiiantibodies (both IgG and IgM), using a commercial ELISA kit. The buffy coat of seropositive cases was evaluated for detection ofT. gondiiDNA by PCR. Moreover, a structured questionnaire, containing socioepidemiological data and possible risk factors, was filled out by each participant during sample collection. Anti-T. gondiiantibodies 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. gondiiDNA 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 toT. gondii. The seroprevalence rate ofT. gondiiantibodies 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 withT. gondiiinfection, which can be considered as potential sources ofT.gondiiinfection.