Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Haemodialysis Patients

Problem statement: In situations of immunodeficiency, Toxoplasma gondii emerges as a life-threatening infection. Toxoplasma gondii is transmitted parenterally, flourish in immunocompromised subjects and, most toxoplasma infections are asymptomatic. Studies have shown that there is a immunodeficiency in renal failure patient such as hemodialysis patients and these patients have a high risk for many infections. There is no evidence about toxoplasmosis in hemodialysis patients in Iran. Approach: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure. This case-control study was carried out on 44 hemodialysis patients and 44 healthy controls for the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies by ELISA. Anti-IgG, IgM and IgA T. gondii antibodies positivity were found to be 26 (59.10%), 3 (6.80%) and 3 (6.80%) of the 44 hemodialysis patients, respectively and 16 (36.40%) of the 44 control subjects were Anti-IgG T. gondii antibodies positivity and all of control subjects were negative for Anti-IgM and IgA T. gondii antibodies. The difference between them was statistically significant (p = 0.032). In addition, an increase of the seropositivity rate was detected with increasing length of time on hemodialysis treatment, indicating a statistically significant difference between these 2 parameters (p<0.001). Results: These findings confirm a high prevalence of toxoplasma infection in hemodialysis patients and these patients are a risk group for toxoplasma infection. Results showed that 3 hemodialysis patients had an acute and active infection. Conclusion: Moreover, it is recommended that hemodialysis patients who are susceptible to toxoplasma infections should be identified by T. gondii IgG and IgM and/or IgA specific serological tests. Therefore, patients undergoing hemodialysis should be screened for toxoplasma before dialysis to prevent the dissemination of this infection through the hemodialysis procedure.