Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Blood Donors: An Investigation from the Endemicity. Non-systematic Review

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis, the most common parasitic disease in the world, which infects humans and animals. It is transmitted through cat feces through the process of excretion and ingestion of oocysts. Humans become infected by eating improperly washed vegetables, raw or undercooked meat, contaminated water, the soil or area where the cat defecates, or by transfusing infected blood. The study aims to identify, through scientific evidence, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in blood donors, considering its global endemicity. A non-systematic documentary review was used for searching articles worldwide on the topic of T. gondii seroprevalence in blood donors, in different databases such as SciELO, Google Academics, etc. A total of 27 articles that had the required information; grouping the seroprevalence results by region, obtained positive IgG and IgG + IgM. Calculating the prevalence, it was identified in Asia at 7.8%, America 32.8%, Africa 40.7%, Oceania 34%, and Europe 38.1%. In conclusion, it is convenient to carry out this type of study in each country to verify the prevalence and, in addition, to determine the incidence of infection in blood donors to calculate the risk of transmission. Keywords: Toxoplasma, seroepidemiologic studies, antibodies, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, blood donors. Resumen Introducción: Toxoplasma gondii en un protozoo intracelular causante de la toxoplasmosis, la enfermedad parasitaria más frecuente del mundo la cual infecta a humanos y animales, se trasmite por medio de las heces de los gatos mediante el proceso de excreción e ingestión de los ooquistes. Los humanos se infectan al ingerir vegetales mal lavados, carne cruda o poco cocida, agua contaminada, el suelo o área donde defeca el gato, o al transfundir sangre infectada. Objetivo: identificar mediante evidencias científicas la seroprevalencia de T. gondii en donantes de sangre, considerando su endemicidad global. Metodología: se empleó una revisión no sistemática, documental realizando la búsqueda de artículos a nivel mundial del tema seroprevalencia de T. gondii en donantes de sangre, en diferentes bases como SciELO, Google Academics, etc. Resultados: un total de 27 artículos que contaron con la información requerida; agrupando los resultados de seroprevalencia por región, anticuerpos positivos IgG e IgG + IgM. Calculando la prevalencia se identificó, en Asia 7,8%; América 32,8%; África 40,7%; Oceanía 34% y Europa 38,1%. Conclusión: es conveniente realizar este tipo de estudio en cada país para comprobar la prevalencia y, además, determinar la incidencia de la infección en donantes de sangre para calcular el riesgo de transmisión. Palabras Clave: Toxoplasma, estudios seroepidemiológicos, anticuerpos, inmunoglobulina G, inmunoglobulina M, donantes de sangre

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis in Blood Donors: An Investigation from the Endemicity. Non-systematic Review

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis, the most common parasitic disease in the world, which infects humans and animals. It is transmitted through cat feces through the process of excretion and ingestion of oocysts. Humans become infected by eating improperly washed vegetables, raw or undercooked meat, contaminated water, the soil or area where the cat defecates, or by transfusing infected blood. The study aims to identify, through scientific evidence, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in blood donors, considering its global endemicity. A non-systematic documentary review was used for searching articles worldwide on the topic of T. gondii seroprevalence in blood donors, in different databases such as SciELO, Google Academics, etc. A total of 27 articles that had the required information; grouping the seroprevalence results by region, obtained positive IgG and IgG + IgM. Calculating the prevalence, it was identified in Asia at 7.8%, America 32.8%, Africa 40.7%, Oceania 34%, and Europe 38.1%. In conclusion, it is convenient to carry out this type of study in each country to verify the prevalence and, in addition, to determine the incidence of infection in blood donors to calculate the risk of transmission