Toxoplasmosis among Patients with Cancers and Blood Disorders in Iran: Serological Evaluation, Risk Factors and Comparison with Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes toxoplasmosis in humans and warm-blooded animals. In this study, we explored the risk factors and seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection among cancer patients and patients with blood cell disorders in Iran. We collected serum samples from each participant  include  600 clinically healthy individuals, 127 patients with different types of cancer, 294 patients with red blood cell disorders, and 101 patients with white blood cell disorders and tested for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG and IgM) using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kits and analyzed the results statistically.Out of the 1122 participants ,seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis among all patients with different disorders , patients with white blood cell disorders, patients with red blood cell disorders and patients with different types of cancer 9.97% , 17.82%, 11.57% and  7.09% were reported  respectiveiy.Awareness campaign to educate blood cell disorders patients regarding contact with pets is salient to the reduction of the Toxoplasma burden. In addition, it is pertinent to screen patients with cancers to rule out Toxoplasma infections.