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Seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among asymptomatic blood donors in Egypt

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Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in 260 blood donors seen at blood banks in 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 their T. gondii antibody status using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. 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 seropositivity and eating meat by-products (luncheon/shawerma) (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 80.82 [95% CI 18.62–350.81], P < 0.0001) or being non-educated (adjusted OR 32.25 [95% CI 7.46–139.44], P < 0.0001). These findings highlight that T. gondii is prevalent among blood donors in Egypt.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the technicians for their excellent laboratory assistance. Laboratory work was performed using the logistics of the Center for Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt. All the experiments were carried out in compliance with the current laws of Egypt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Veterinary Medicine, The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, LE12 5RD, UK

    Hany M. Elsheikha

  2. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt

    Manar S. Azab

  3. Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt

    Nashwa K. Abousamra, Doaa M. Elghannam & Douaa Raafat

  4. Divisions of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, 1200 Herman Pressler, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Mohammad H. Rahbar

  5. Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6410 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Mohammad H. Rahbar

Authors
  1. Hany M. Elsheikha
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  2. Manar S. Azab
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  3. Nashwa K. Abousamra
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  4. Mohammad H. Rahbar
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  5. Doaa M. Elghannam
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  6. Douaa Raafat
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Correspondence to Hany M. Elsheikha.

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Elsheikha, H.M., Azab, M.S., Abousamra, N.K. et al. Seroprevalence of and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among asymptomatic blood donors in Egypt. Parasitol Res 104, 1471–1476 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1350-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1350-z

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