Toxoplasmosis in thalassemic iraqi patients: serological and hematological study

Abstract

Background. Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease with high prevalence, it causes by an obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Thalassemia is a blood disturbance has undergone through families in which the body makes an atypical form or sufficient amount of hemoglobin. The condition results in great numbers of red blood cells being damaged which cause to anemia. The purpose of this study was to identification the prevalence of T. gondii antibodies and hematological changes among thalassemic patients. Methods. Samples were collected during March to June 2022 from Al-Karama Teaching Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq. After doctors diagnosis, necessary blood tests to detect thalassemia in a group of 165 thalassemic patients and 80 healthy controls. Serum specimens were investigated for Toxo IgM and IgG antibodies using immunochromatography test and chemiluminescent (CIMA) test, their age from 2-45 years. Results. For immunochromatography test showed 44/165(26.67%) in thalassemic patients who have positive response for anti-Toxo IgG antibodies comparative with non-thalassemic control groups 33/80(41.25%) samples of have positive response for this test. The percentage infection with toxoplasmosis from thalassemia patients,60/165(36.36%) patients who have positive response for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies as well as 25/80(31.25%) of non-thalassemic control group have positive response in chemiluminescent micro particle immunoassay(CMIA). However, result of CBC test showed that low significant levels in the group of thalassemic patients with toxoplasmosis with mean of Hb(8.286±0.128g/dl), MCV(62.027±2.146Fl), MCH(23.111±0.327pg) and MCHC (26.888±0.385 g/dl) respectively in comparison with control group.