Assessment of seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in blood donors applied to the blood center of Gazi university hospital

Toxoplasmosis is a life threatening zoonotic infection in immunosuppressive individuals. The risk of transmission of toxoplasmosis through the blood donors isseverely high. Determining the prevalence and seropositivity rates of toxoplasmosis inasymptomatic blood donors is crucial in terms of the risk status of the transmission ofthis infection to the blood recipients.

In this study, the presence and level of the specific Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in donors' blood is investigated by
electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). The statistical significance levels between Toxoplasma seropositivity and demographic characteristics of the donors such as age, educational status, raw meat consumption, drinking water supply are examined.

Toxoplasma IgG seropositivity is found among the 225 (25.6%) of the donors present inthe study group, while IgM seropositivity is detected in 20 donors (2.3%). Both IgG and IgM seropositivities are found in 12 donors (1.4%).

Our study provides information about Toxoplasma seropositivity based on the samples collected from the donors who were admitted to the blood centre of a university hospital in Ankara, Turkey. This study, demonstrates that Toxoplasma seropositivity is high in the rural areas and the regions where the education level is low.