Anti-toxoplasma gondii antibodies among volunteer blood donors in eastern Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in 100 volunteer blood donors at blood bank. Blood donors were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors toxoplasmosis. A required data were taken through a designed questionnaire. Five ml. venous blood samples were withdrawn by disposable sterile syringes to sepasera. Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were evaluated by using ELISA. The results showed that 40 volunteers [40%] were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. The T. gondii positivity and the risk factors analysis in a descending order were manual activities [95%] compared to [15.0%], Contact with farm animals and/or birds [87.5%] compared to [30.0%], eating processed meat 'shawerma [87.5%] compared to [41.7%] raw milk or milk product [70%] compared to [50.0%], rural residence [62.5%] compared to [33.3%], non-educated [62.5%] compared to [16.7%], and least one was the contact with cats [55.0%] compared to [16.7%]. These findings highlight the prevalent T. gondii among blood donors and focused on the risk factors. It was recom-mended that blood donors should be free from Toxoplasma antibodies