Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Departments of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
2
Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
3
Dept. of Zoonotic Diseases, Veterinary Research Division, National Research Centre
4
4Medical Parasitology, Kasr Al-Ainy, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
5
Departments of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
6
Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
7
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
8
Public Health and community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
Abstract
Globally, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infections are frequent in both humans and animals, and toxoplasmosis is among the most prevalent parasitic zoonoses. Hemodialysis (HD) is a potentiating factor for impaired cellular immunity, making patients more susceptible to the opportunistic pathogen Toxoplasma gondii and blood-transmitted viruses. To identify the sero-occurrence of Toxoplasmosis, HCV and HIV and the molecular-occurrence of Toxoplasma within the sera of patients undergoing HD. A single serum sample was collected from 75 HD patients. Serum samples were searched for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM, HCV and HIV antibodies (Abs) using ELISA and Toxoplasma DNA using PCR assay. The results of this study indicated that Toxoplasma was detected by IgG, IgM and PCR (61.3%, 22.7%, and 1.3%, respectively). HCV Abs was detected in 14.6% of cases, co-infection with Toxoplasma (Abs) in 8 cases (10.6%), while HIV Ab wasn’t detected in any patients by ELISA. This investigation concluded that seropositive Toxoplasma and HCV are frequent in HD patients with a very low prevalence of Toxoplasma DNA and regular checks for Toxoplasma and HCV seroconversion is desirable in these patients. A two-steps diagnostic immune-molecular approach in one single serum sample for detection of Toxoplasma-DNA in seropositive patients can rule out acute or active toxoplasmosis and avoid unnecessary treatment.
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