Seroprevalence Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and Anti- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Antibody among volunteer blood donors Referred Gonabad Blood Transfusion Organization

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis with prevalent geographic distribution. The parasite can stay alive in citrated blood for 50 days at 4 0C. On the other hand، Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is a gamma-herpesvirus and transmission of EBV through transfusion of blood products and Platelet-rich plasm has been reported. Screening for Toxoplasma and EBV is not mandatory in Iran blood banks. The aim of this consideration was to determine the frequency of antibody against Toxoplasma and EBV in blood donors referred to Gonabad Blood Transfusion Organization (East of Iran). A total of 300 serum samples were collected in 2011 from healthy voluntary blood donors who have referred to Gonabad Blood Transfusion Organization. After bloodletting and parting of serum، ELISA test was performed for all individuals. Results were analyzed by SPSS 16 software. of 300pateints studied، 62 (20. 7%) were female and 238 (79. 3%) were male. Mean age was 34 years old. Fifty-five (18. 3%) donors tested seropositive for anti-T. gondii antibodies; 48 (16%) donors were positive for only IgG، 5 (1. 6%) were positive for both IgM and IgG and 2 (0. 6%) were positive for only IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies. Thus the prevalence of IgG and IgM anti T. gondii antibodies was 17. 7% and 2. 3% respectively. Positive persons for IgM were 2 first-time blood donors، 1 sporadic donor and 4 regular donors. Forty six percent were positive for VCA- IgG Epstein-Barr virus antibody. The seropositivity rates for females and males were found as 48. 4 % and 46. 3%، respectively. Positive persons were 36 first-time blood donors، 34 sporadic donors and 69 regular donors. Our study showed T. gondii infection in 2/3% of voluntary donors that revealed significance of screening this antibody especially in regular donors. About EBV the results of this study confirmed lower distribution pattern to compare those reported in other studies.