Prevalence of IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Blood Donors at Urmia Blood Transfusion Organization, Iran

Abstract

Objective: The importance of toxoplasmosis lies in its global spread, opportunistic nature, and causative role in abortion or irreparable adverse effects on infants of infected pregnant women. Toxoplasma gondii has different transmission routes to humans, including blood transfusion. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies specific for T. gondii in blood donors at the Urmia Blood Transfusion Organization in west Azerbaijan, Iran. Methods: The present analytical, descriptive study evaluated the plasma of 270 randomly selected blood bags donated in 2013. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was employed to measure anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. Results: The results of the ELISA test showed that 102 samples (37.8%) from 270 blood bags had IgG antibodies in their plasma and none of them were IgM-positive, whereas 98 were men and four were women. Conclusion: Any increase in the level of IgM antibodies indicates the presence of an acute disease because the parasite is inside white blood cells and contaminates blood transfusion. Fortunately, all samples were IgM-negative. However, a province-wide seroepidemiological study is required for the Blood Transfusion Organization to consider including screening for anti-T. gondii antibodies in its screening programs.

Toxoplasmosis Immunity Status of Blood Donors in Sidi Bel Abbès, West Algeria

“…Consistent with the literature, this study showed that blood donors had the infection in the past, which may be occurred at a younger age [19][20][21]. It is well known that a hallmark of toxoplasmosis is that the parasite persists for months to years or even a lifetime in tissues.…”

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in the Iranian blood donors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Included studies were performed in 12 provinces in Iran (Khorasan Razavi, Tehran, Kerman, Fars, Mazandaran, West Azerbaijan, Sistan and Baluchistan, Hamadan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Khuzestan, and Ardabil), and most studies were done in Khorasan Razavi and Fars (n = 3 per province), as well as Tehran, Kerman, and Mazandaran (n = 2 per province). Among 19 included studies [ [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] ], 8226 apparently healthy blood donors were tested regarding T. gondii -specific IgG and/or IgM antibodies, among which 32.9% (95% CI: 25.3%–41.6%) were seropositive only for IgG, 1.4% (95% CI: 0.9%–2.1%) were seropositive only for IgM, and 1.7% (95% CI: 1.3%–2.1%) were positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies ( Fig. 2 A–C).…”

“…of blood donors No. seropositive for T. gondii Pooled seroprevalence (95% CI) OR (95% CI) P -value Heterogeneity I 2 (%) References Gender Male 11 5162 1821 38.8 (28.6–50.0) 1 [ 26 , [31] , [32] , [33] , [36] , [37] , [38] , 40 , [42] , [43] , [44] ] Female 451 230 54.5 (42.6–65.9) 1.98 (1.52–2.58) < 0.001 23.7 Residence Urban 8 2479 976 38.3 (27.7–50.1) 1 [ 33 , 36 , [38] , [39] , [40] , [42] , [43] , [44] ] Rural 1044 500 45.4 (30.2–61.5) 1.37 (0.97–1.93) 0.069 73.8 Blood group A 9 1467 510 …”