Abstract

SANCHEZ ARTIGAS, Rolando et al. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in blood donors from the province of Guantánamo. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2012, vol.31, n.1, pp. 101-107. ISSN 0864-0300.

The risk of contamination with Toxoplasma gondii via blood transfusion is increased by the incidence of this parasite in donors and its tolerance to blood processing and storage processes, which turns it into a hazard for risk groups. This disease is not notifiable in Cuba. The interest in learning about the epidemiological behavior of this parasitosis led us to study 562 blood donor samples from the province of Guantánamo, 47.0 % of which tested positive for anti-T. gondii IgG, with over 62 % positivity in the municipalities of Baracoa and Maisí, and higher prevalence in rural areas. Neither the seropositivity values found in the age groups studied nor their sex distribution were significant, though contact with the parasite was higher in the 18-40 age group. These seroepidemiological data point to the need to propose control actions for the use of blood products in risk groups.

Keywords : Toxoplasma gondii; IgG antibodies; immunofluorescence.

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