Trends of Toxoplasma gondii and common transfusable venereal infections among blood donors in Menoufia Province, Egypt

• Published in: Scientific reports 2024-09, Vol.14 (1), p.20920-9, Article 20920
• Main Authors: Gouda, Marwa A., Saied, Sara A., Ashry, Walaa Mohamed Omar, Abd-Eltwab, Raafat Abd-Rabow, Aldesoky, Mohamed Morshdy, El-dydamoni, Omnia Ahmed, Yousef, Marwa, El-Derbawy, Mona M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/326; 692/308/174; Adolescent; Adult; Antibodies; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Blood & organ donations; Blood Donors; Blood group antigens; Blood groups; Blood transfusion; Cross-Sectional Studies; Egypt; Egypt - epidemiology; Epidemiology; Female; HBV; HCV; Health promotion; Hepatitis B surface antigen; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Infections; Male; Meat; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; p24 Protein; Pathogens; Prevalence; Protozoa; Public health; Risk Factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - parasitology; STD; Syphilis; Syphilis - blood; Syphilis - epidemiology; Toxoplasma - immunology; Toxoplasma gondii; Toxoplasma gondii Prevalence; Toxoplasmosis - epidemiology; Toxoplasmosis - parasitology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70740-9

Blood transfusion has a hazard of transmission of many pathogens, including Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ) and other venereal infections. It is crucial to conduct epidemiological surveillance to detect the prevalence of these pathogens. The study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of T. gondii and common transfusable venereal infections among healthy blood donors in Menoufia Province, Egypt, and identify associated risk factors. Four hundred twenty individuals were recruited between January and April 2023 for cross-sectional descriptive research from the blood banks of Menoufia University medical hospitals. Collected blood samples were screened for anti- T. gondii IgM and IgG, HBsAg, anti-HCV antibodies, HIV p24 antigen and anti-HIV antibodies, and anti- Treponema pallidum antibodies. 46 (11.0%) and 22 donors (5.2%) individuals tested positive for anti- T. gondii IgG with a 95% CI (8.3–14.6) and IgM with a 95% CI (3.5–8.1), respectively, while one patient (0.2%) was positive for both antibodies. Regarding venereal infections, 12 (2.9%) were positive for HBV, 6 (1.4%) were positive for HCV, 7 (1.7%) were positive for HIV, and none of the tested population showed positivity for syphilis. Female gender, consumption of raw meat, agricultural environment, poor awareness about T. gondii , and blood group type (especially AB and O groups) were identified as independent risk factors for T. gondii infection. The study highlights the importance of testing blood donors for T. gondii and common transfusable venereal illnesses. Starting health education programs and preventative measures, such as suitable meat handling and cleanliness practices, is critical for minimizing the occurrence of these illnesses. Larger-scale additional study is advised to confirm these results and provide guidance for public health initiatives.