title: Seroprevalence and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among blood donors in southern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite which can be transmitted to human through a variety of routes including blood transfusion. This cross sectional study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection and related epidemiological features among healthy blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1,480 healthy blood donors from five blood service centers in Fars province were analyzed for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Blood samples were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by enzyme immunoassay. IgM-positive samples were also tested for the presence of Toxoplasma DNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Demographic characteristics of participants were also recorded during samples collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti T. gondii antibodies were detected in sera of 286 out of 1,480 blood donors corresponding to an overall seroprevalence of 19.3% in this population.  From these, 182 (12.3%) were seropositive only for IgG, 81 (5.47%) were seropositive only for IgM and 23 (1.6%) were positive for both IgG and IgM. PCR detected active parasitemia in two (1.9%) of the IgM-positive subjects. Age, place of residence and level of education were statistically significant (p < 0.05) with seropositivity to Toxoplasma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results highlighted that asymptomatic blood donors, especially those with active parasitemia, may constitute a significant risk of transmitting toxoplasmosis to susceptible recipients.
authors.affiliation: Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. sarkarib@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bahador
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarkari
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shafiei
authors.forename: Mani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zare
authors.forename: Sattar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sohrabpour
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kasraian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M