Toxoplasma gondii molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis in hemodialysis patients from Khuzestan, Southwest Iran

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Saba Yarahmadi, Jasem Saki, Reza Arjmand, Heshmatolah Shahbazian
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2024
• Subjects: Hemodialysis; Nested-PCR; Sequence; Toxoplasma gondii; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-024-00585-5; https://doaj.org/article/1fb1bd868e9e49ac84aa8896f309d05d

Abstract Background The diagnosis and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection can make a significant influence to the prevention of the dangerous consequences of toxoplasmosis, particularly in immunocompromised people. Objective The aim of this investigation was to assess the frequency and genotyping of T. gondii in blood samples of patients with hemodialysis. Materials and methods In the current investigation, a total of 379 blood samples were taken from subjects with hemodialysis who were referred to teaching hospital of Ahvaz in the southwest of Iran. The samples were evaluated using the Nested PCR by targeting the B1 gene, and then, sequencing and phylogenetic tree were constructed. Results T. gondii DNA was found in 112 (29.55%) of the blood samples by Nested PCR. Amplicons from T. gondii revealed high identity with GenBank sequences. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that all sequences were closely related to Type I of T. gondii. Conclusion Because of the high incidence of toxoplasmosis with type I prevalent in hemodialysis patients, we recommend a systematic screening for toxoplasmosis to carry out for monitoring the possible dissemination of toxoplasmosis during hemodialysis.