Sero-Prevalence of Anti-Toxoplasma Antibodies IgM and IgG among Blood Donor in Benghazi ,Libya: A Prospective and Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: In our study asymptomatic Toxoplasma gondii parasitemia has been documented in donor blood in the national blood transfusion center, Benghazi. However, donated blood is not routinely screened for a protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Objective: To evaluate seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among blood donors of Benghazi, Libya and identify characteristics of blood donors associated with seropositivity.

Methods: A prospective-cross-sectional study involved 600 healthy blood donor samples randomly collected from volunteer testing to demonstrate the presence of T. gondii antibodies, Elisa test was used to determine the presence of anti T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies parasitemia, during the period from March 2013 to May 2013 The mean age of the blood donors was 32.85 years and the age range was between 18 and 62 years in the national blood transfusion center blood bank, Benghazi city.

Results: The result revealed that the overall infected donor was 280 (46.7%) and the non-infected donor 320 (53.3%), only 98 (16.3%) of the 600 samples tested positive for acute toxoplasmosis, which is indicated by the presence of IgM antibodies. While 253 (42.2%) of the samples had chronic toxoplasmosis, which is only present when IgG antibodies are positive, with highly significant differences between them (p<0.01). In relation to the age group, the results showed high positive percentage samples, 30 (50%) in ELISA-IgG test at the age group of (40-51) years, whereas the lowest one was 7(31.2%) as noticed at the age group of (18-28) years. There was a significant difference between them (P=0.00). While ELISA-IgM showed variable results characterized by the presence of high percentage 3 (17.7%) at the age group of (18-28) years and the lowest 1 (10.5%) at the age group of (52-62) years, with a significant difference between them (P=0.00). With a high significant between them (P=0.00). There was no significant difference between them (P=0.485) Seroprevalence rate of T. gondii IgM level among 560 tested males donors was 95 (16.96%) and among 40 tested females donors was 3 (7.55%) with no significant difference between them IgG p=0.107 IgM p=.118. The frequencies of ABO blood group phenotypes, with respect to results of the serological test (positive IgG and/or IgM and negative) for anti-T. gondii antibodies do not demonstrate statistically significant differences IgG=P=0.243I; gM=p=P=0.112.

Conclusions: It is concluded that a high seroprevalence of T. gondii in healthy voluntary donors in Libya. As well as, it may be suitable to include screening investigation (ELISA) for T. gondii also in the pre-transfusion blood testing schedule.

Author(s): Eman Z Younis1*, Malak M Shallam1 and HH kassem2

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