Toxoplasma seroprevalence in voluntary blood donors at Mohamed Al Mgarif Hospital in Ajdabyia city

Abstract EN

Toxoplasma is an intracellular protozoan parasite distributed worldwide.

Humans can become infected by the accidental ingestion of Oocytes in cat feces, eating undercooked meat, congenitally from an infected mother or from a blood transfusion.

T.

gondii IgM is detected 1 week after infection, and is considered as an early diagnostic marker for toxoplasmosis.

IgG antibodies detected 1–2 weeks following infection and can persist lifelong, hence used as indicator of a previous infection.

140 blood samples were collected randomly at previous time from voluntary blood donors at Blood Bank of Mohammad Al Mgariaf Hospital -Ajdabiya from October 2013 to January 2014, and analyzed for anti-T.

gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using “ ELISA technique”.

Data were analyzed using SPSS (10) by Chi square test.

62 (44%) of subjects were seropositive for toxoplasma, while 78 (56%) were negative.

The positive IgG cases were 62 out of 140 (44%), represented (100% ) of the total positive cases, While IgM positive cases were 6 out of 140 (4.3%) and about (10%) of 62 positive cases.

Those IgM positive showed IgG positive results too.

On conclusion the infection percentage (44%) is considered high and those donors could transmit infection to recipients who received their blood, this could cause a serious consequence in pregnant women or immunocompromised or who facing a decreased immunity.

Therefore screening of blood for toxoplasma antibodies may be considered in blood donors’ investigations.

This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and related epidemiological features among blood donors.