title: Seroprevalence and Molecular Evaluation of Toxoplasmosis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy for Malignancies in the Bushehr Province, Southwest Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasmosis is a life-threatening infection in organ transplant recipients, people receiving corticosteroid or radiation therapy, people with malignancies, and AIDS patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignancies in the Bushehr province of southwest Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were taken from 86 patients who were continuously referred to the chemotherapy center in Bushehr province and evaluated by ELISA to determine anti-ToxoplasmaIgG and IgM antibodies. Moreover, a blood buffy coat of each sample was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), targeting a 529 bp gene ofT. gondii. PCR products of the positive samples were sequenced to determine the genotype of the parasite.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-ToxoplasmaIgG antibodies were detected in the sera of 21 (24.4%) cases. All of the patients were negative for anti-ToxoplasmaIgM antibodies. No statistically significant correlation was found between seropositivity toToxoplasmaand duration of chemotherapy or having contact with cats. PCR detected a 529 bp band ofT. gondiiin the buffy coats of two out of 86 (2.3%) cases. The sequence analysis demonstrated that both cases were 95% identical to type III (VEG strain) ofT. gondii.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study demonstrated the presence of type IIIT. gondiiin the buffy coats of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Given that toxoplasmosis is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients, these patients should be screened for toxoplasmosis before and during chemotherapy to prevent acute toxoplasmosis.
authors: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Afshin
authors: A
authors: Barazesh
authors: Basic Sciences in Infectious Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Bahador
authors: B
authors: Sarkari
authors: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Mehrabi Sisakht
authors: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Samaneh
authors: S
authors: Abdolahi Khabisi
authors: Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Nikbakht
authors: The Persian Gulf Tropical and Infectious Diseases Research Centre, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Ravanbod
keywords: Bushehr Province; Chemotherapy; Iran; Seroprevalence; Toxoplasmosis