Prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in asymptomatic Egyptian blood donors

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in 260 blood donors seen at blood banks, Mansoura University Hospital, Egypt. Blood donors were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors for T. gondii infection. A blood sample was taken to document the T. gondii antibody status by using ELISA. Overall, 155 [59.6%] of 260 blood donors were positive for anti-T gondii IgG antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between T. gondii positivity and eating processed meat as luncheon and/or shawerma [adjusted odds ratio [OR] 80.82 [95% CI 18.62-350.811, P <0.0001] or being non-educated [adjusted OR 32.25 [95% CI 7.46-139.44], P.<0.0001]. These findings highlight the prevalent T. gondii among blood donors and focused on the risk factors