Author/Authors :
SADOOGHIAN, Saeed Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran , MAHMOUDVAND, Hossein Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran , MOHAMMADI, Mohammad Ali Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran , NAZARI SARCHESHMEH, Naser Blood Transfusion Organization of Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, Iran , TAVAKOLI KARESHK, Amir Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran , KAMIABI, Hossein Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran , ZIA-ALI, Naser Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
Abstract :
Background: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to evaluate the prevalence
of IgM and IgG anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the associated risk factors
among healthy blood donors in Khorasan Razavi Province, northeast of Iran from
Nov 2014 to May 2015.
Methods: Overall, 491 serum samples from apparently healthy blood donors referred
the six biggest blood centers in Razavi Khorasan, Iran, were screened for
IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA). A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on risk factors
for T. gondii infection. Nested PCR was also used to detect DNA of T. gondii in the
IgM-positive samples by using of B1 and RE (Repetitive Element) as marker for
amplifying fragment size of 531 bp and 164 bp in PCR method.
Results: Totally, 200 (40.7%) samples were seropositive for anti-T. gondii antibodies;
184 (37.5%) donors tested seropositive for only IgG antibody, 8 (1.6%) tested
seropositive for both IgM and IgG and 8 (1.6%) were positive for IgM antibody
alone. Several risk factors significantly related to T. gondii seropositivity in the univariate
analysis at P<0.05 included age (P<0.001), and raw/half-cocked meat consumption
(P=0.015). T. gondii DNA was found in all sixteen IgM-positive samples.
Conclusion: T. gondii infection was present among healthy blood donors in
northeast of Iran. Thus, it is suggested to design screening programs for preventing
transfusion-transmitted toxoplasmosis.
Keywords :
Toxoplasmosis , Blood transfusion , IgG antibody , IgM antibody , Nested-PCR , Iran
