title: [Investigation of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in beta-thalassemia major patients in Aydın province].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Blood transfusion therapy for Thalassaemia patients may cause transmission of some infectious agents to the recipients. As Toxoplasma gondii is a transfusion-transmitted parasite, we aimed to investigate anti-Toxoplasma antibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We arranged two groups: patients and controls. There were 36 Thalassaemia cases in the patient group. The control group also included 36 healthy people (of the same ages and gender) who were selected by the one-to-one mapping method. Mean age was 18.1 ± 8.3 (4-35). Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were analyzed by the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We determined parasite-specific Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in 7 (19.4%) and borderline levels of IgM antibody in 2 Thalassaemia major cases (5.5%). In the control group, parasite-specific IgG antibody was found in 5 cases (14%). Serum samples of patients with borderline levels were analyzed with an avidity test and were found to have high avidity. There were no significant differences between patient and control groups when considering the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies (p=0.752).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there is no significant statistical difference, we suggest that blood transfusion donors should be investigated for infectious agents such as Toxoplasma gondii.
authors.affiliation: Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Anatomi Anabilim Dalı, Aydın, Türkiye.
authors.forename: Sacide
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karakaş
authors.forename: Serçin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozlem
authors.forename: Ayfer Metin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tellioğlu
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ertabaklar
authors.forename: Sema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ertuğ
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M