BMC Infectious Diseases (Jul 2007)

Seroepidemiology of infection with <it>Toxoplasma gondii </it>in healthy blood donors of Durango, Mexico

  • Estrada-Martínez Sergio,
  • Duran-Morales Ehecatl,
  • Nevarez-Piedra Luis,
  • Ayala-Ayala Julio,
  • Fallad-Torres Laura,
  • Rodríguez-Briones Alfredo,
  • Mercado-Suarez Miguel,
  • Alvarado-Esquivel Cosme,
  • Liesenfeld Oliver,
  • Márquez-Conde José,
  • Martínez-García Sergio

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2334-7-75
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 75

Abstract

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Abstract Background Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in blood donors could represent a risk for transmission in blood recipients. There is scarce information about the epidemiology of T. gondii infection in blood donors in Mexico. Therefore, we sought to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection and associated socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics in a population of healthy blood donors of Durango City, Mexico. Methods Four hundred and thirty two blood donors in two public blood banks of Durango City, Mexico were examined for T. gondii infection between August to September 2006. Blood donors were tested for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by using enzyme-linked immunoassays (Diagnostic Automation Inc., Calabasas, CA, USA). Socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics from each participant were also obtained. Results Thirty two (7.4%) of 432 blood donors had IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies. Eight (1.9%) of them had also IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies. Multivariate analysis using logic regression showed that T. gondii infection was associated with the presence of cats at home (adjusted OR = 3.81; 95% CI: 1.45–10.01). The age group of 45–60 years showed a significantly higher frequency of T. gondii infection than the group of 25–34 years (p = 0.02). Blood donors without education had a significantly higher frequency of infection (15.8%) than those with 13–19 years of education (4.5%) (p = 0.04). Other characteristics of blood donors including male gender, consumption of undercooked meat or blood transfusion did not show an association with infection. Conclusion The prevalence of T. gondii infection in healthy blood donors of Durango City, Mexico is lower than those reported in blood donors of south and central Mexico, and is one of the lowest reported in blood donors worldwide. T. gondii infection in our blood donors was most likely acquired by contact with cats. Prevalence of infection increased with age and decreased with educational level.