Toxoplasma gondii is an important foodborne protozoan that can be transmitted through infected blood containing tachyzoite form\nof the parasite.The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii infection and related risk factors among healthy blood\ndonors in Boyer-Ahmad County, southwest Iran. Blood samples were taken from285 healthy blood donors who voluntarily agreed\nto participate in this study. Sera and buffy coat were isolated fromthe blood samples for serological andmolecular evaluations.The\nsera were tested for anti-T. gondii antibodies (both IgG and IgM), using a commercial ELISA kit.Thebuffy coat of seropositive cases\nwas evaluated for detection of T. gondii DNA by PCR.Moreover, a structured questionnaire, containing socioepidemiological data\nand possible risk factors, was filled out by each participant during sample collection. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in sera\nof 48/285 (16.8%) participants. Only two of the subjects (0.7%) were seropositive for both IgG and IgM antibodies. T. gondii DNA\nwas not detected in buffy coat of any of the seropositive cases. Risk factors such as contact with soil (OR, 9.7; 95% CI, 4.9ââ?¬â??19.4)\nand consumption of semicooked meat (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.2ââ?¬â??5.03) were statistically associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. The\nseroprevalence rate of T. gondii antibodies in the blood donors of Boyer-Ahmad County was not high in comparison with other\nregions in Iran. In this study, consumption of undercooked meats, job, and contactwith soilwere independent risk factors associated\nwith T. gondii infection, which can be considered as potential sources of T. gondii infection.
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