title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in North Indian blood donors: implications for transfusion transmissible toxoplasmosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transfusion transmitted Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) can result in significant clinical consequences in immunocompromised and multiply transfused patients, pregnant women and fetus etc. Anti-T. gondii seroprevalence, specifically IgM antibodies reflect the risk of transfusion transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred and ninety-three blood donors in a tertiary care hospital in North India were screened for IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies was 51.8% and 5% respectively. The prevalence was higher in females (M=51.6%, F=89.2%) and in replacement donors (replacement donors=63.2%, voluntary donors=33.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The donor population constitutes a significant risk of transfusion transmitted toxoplasmosis. Effective strategies are required to prevent transfusion transmitted toxoplasmosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, India. pelhence@sgpgi.ac.in
authors.forename: Priti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elhence
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Kashi Nath
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: Rajendra K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan