Forough Kazemi - Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Somayeh Fallahizadeh - Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Mohammad Hossein Feiz-Haddad - Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan that infects most warm-blooded vertebrates. Because of the immunodeficiency in hemodialysis patients, these individuals are at higher risk for reactivating chronic toxoplasmosis; therefore, a diagnosis of early and definitive in these individuals is highly desirable. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in hemodialysis patients of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran during 2015-2016. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 160 participants, 80 hemodialysis patients (test group) and 80 healthy persons (control group) were randomly selected. IgG and IgM against T. gondii was measured by CLIA (Chemiluminescence) and ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) tests. To analyze the data from Chi-square test, and SPSS statistical software of version 21 was used. Result: In hemodialysis patients, 35 (43.8%) and 25 (31.3%) were positive for the antibody of IgG by ELISA and CLIA, respectively. In healthy individuals, a positive result of 22 (27.5%) and 13 (16.3%) were obtained by ELISA and CLIA, respectively. In hemodialysis patients, 5 (6.3%) and 4 (5%) was positive by ELISA and by CLIA, respectively. In healthy individuals, a positive of 4 (5%) were obtained by ELISA and CLIA. The antibodies of IgG in hemodialysis patients was significantly higher than healthy individuals by ELISA and CLIA (P<.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of Toxoplasma in hemodialysis patients was higher than healthy subjects. Our findings show a relatively high prevalence of the parasite among hemodialysis patients and healthy individuals in Ahvaz. So, the health authorities of Ahvaz city must pay more attention to control of the infection, especially in hemodialysis patients.

Seroepidemiology; Toxoplasma gondii; Hemodialysis; Ahvaz; Iran