Oxidative stress and immune-suppression in toxoplasma gondi postive blood donors : implications for safe blood transfusion

Abstract EN

The sero-markers of Toxoplasma gondii and oxidative stress (OS) were de¬termined in a group of 260 blood donors attending blood banks in Greater Cairo.

Twenty-four blood donors with the highest anti-7! Gondii IgG titer were .

Tested for IgG avidity.

Of whom 4 (16.6%) had low IgG avidity antibodies, documenting recent infection, 6 (25%) had borderline avidity and 14 (58.3%) showed high avidity, ruling out recent infection.

The plasma level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly higher and activity of glutathione peroxides (GSH-Px) and level of tocopherol (a, y, & 6) fractions (P < 0.001) were lower in 7! ^o/zdfa'-seropositive than in seronegative blood donors.

This significant alteration in redox status between seropositive and seronegative do¬nors suggested a degradation of their antioxidant enzymes caused by OS in¬duced by increased free radicals attributable to toxoplasmosis infection.

7! Gondii infection also had a prominent influence on the association between OS biomarkers and immune-suppression status in seropositive donors.