Detection of Toxoplasma Gondii Antibodies and DNA Among Renal Transplant Recipient and blood donor in Khartoum State, Sudan

Background and Aim: Toxoplasma gondii infection arises in transplant recipient groups, but at varying frequencies. Reactivation of latent T. gondii infection in transplant patients is uncommon, but does occur. The incidence of reactivation is greater in patient groups receiving more aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. Early diagnosis and treatment should be considered in T. gondii-antibody-positive patients subjected to solid organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in renal transplant recipients in Khartoum, Sudan, using serological and molecular methods. Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional, hospital based study, blood sample were collected from 108 participants; out of them 58 renal transplant recipient individuals and 50 healthy Blood donor attending Sudanese Kidney Association Hospital and Sudan Heart Center Blood Bank. Demographic data were collected by structured questionnaire. All samples were tested for anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using ELISA, and PCR for detection of Toxoplasma DNA was performed. Results: The seropositivity of IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies was higher in renal transplant recipients than in blood donors (36.2% vs 32.0%). Anti-toxoplasma IgM was positive in one renal transplant recipient individual (1.70%), and no samples exhibit reactive IgM antibody for blood donors. None of the samples exhibited positivity to T.gondii DNA. Conclusion: the study showed a relatively high seroprevalence of T.gondii antibodies in renal transplant recipients and blood donor volunteers, on the other hand, the prevalence was much higher in the study conducted in pregnant woman in Sudan. Our study highlighted that asymptomatic blood donors, may constitute a significant risk of transmitting toxoplasmosis to susceptible recipients.