Seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors among blood donors at gondar university hospital, northwest ethiopia

Transmission of Toxoplasma gondii by transfusion of blood from asymptomatic individuals is possible. Despite this reality, the epidemiology of T. gondii infection among blood donors in Ethiopia is not well studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine seroprevalence and associated risk factors of toxoplasmosis among blood donors attending Gondar University Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2012 among blood donors attending Gondar University Hospital Blood Bank. A total of 422 of blood donors were interviewed about sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection. The blood samples were collected and assayed for Toxoplasma gondii antibody using latex agglutination test. One hundred and seventy one (40.5%) of the study participants was positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies. From the positive blood donors for T. gondii, 38.7% (135/351) were males and 50.7 % (36/71) were females respectively. From different age groups, the positivity rate was highest (47.6%) among age category of 49-64 years. Among the different risk factors assessed, eating uncooked meat (AOR=1.291, 95%CI=1.092-3.578), handling cat excreta (AOR=5.683, 95%CI=3.390-9.527); eating raw vegetables and fruits (AOR=2.276, 95%CI=1.309-3.957) were statistically significantly associated with T. gondii seropositivity. The high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondi among healthy blood donors alarm the need to screen blood donors for Toxoplasmosis prior to transfusion even though extensive study on the rate of the transmission of the parasite by blood transfusion is essential to conclude.