Document Type : Original Articles
Authors
1
Clinical Immunology Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
2
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
3
Clinical Immunology Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
4
Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Zahedan, Iran
5
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Cellular and Molecular Science in
6
Vector-borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
10.66224/ari.2026.372677.4104
Abstract
Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a prevalent and severe but significantly overlooked parasitic disease, which can be transmitted via blood products. The current study aimed to assess the possible contamination of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and the applicability of combined serological (ELISA) and molecular (Nested-PCR) methods for its detection.
Material and methods: After plasmid transformation and GRA7 protein production, the purified protein was used to develop an ELISA kit. IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were detected via a GRA7 antigen-based ELISA. In serologically positive samples, Nested-PCR was used to verify the parasite by amplifying a 164 bp fragment within a larger 529 bp repetitive element (RE) sequence of T. gondii.
Results: Out of all tested samples, 35 (1.75 %) were positive for IgM, 402 (20.1 %) were positive for IgG, and 14 (0.7 %) samples showed simultaneous positivity for both IgG and IgM. Notably, within the 423 antibody-positive PRBCs, 82 units (4.1%) underwent leukocyte reduction. Four PRBC units that were non leukocyte reduced were positive for T. gondii DNA.
Conclusion: Due to the limited sensitivity of serological assays in detecting T. gondii, the use of complementary molecular diagnostic techniques is essential for accurate identification. Also, practical procedures such as using leukocyte reducing filters for high-risk blood recipients and implementing a strict donor screening process are necessary to mitigate the transmission of Toxoplasma.
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