RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEROPREVALENCE OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AMONG RENAL FAILURE PATIENTS

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most prevalent zoonotic opportunistic parasitic infections in the world. The current study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and to identify the risk factors among renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis in Artificial Kidney Center in Mukalla, Hadhramout/Yemen during a period from December 2021 to March 2022. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 95 hemodialysis patients 68(71.58%) were males and 27(28.42%) were females. Data regarding to associated variables were collected using a structured questionnaire, and the samples of serum were collected and investigated for T. gondii specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ELISA. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistical software version 24 and a P value<0.05 was taken statistically significant. The results revealed that 92(96.84%) patients had anti-Toxo IgG, 1(1.05%) patients had anti-Toxo IgM. Toxo IgG was detected in a higher rate in males than that in female 69.5% and 28(4%) respectively. there was significantly association of T. gondii infection when detected by IgG antibody test with hemodialysis number >3 (COR=22.250, CI 95%= 1.168-423.952, P=0.039), and with blood transfusion (COR=17.600, CI 95%=0.954-324.568, P=0.054). However, the gender, age groups, Marital status, education, occupation, residence, household size, water source, cat contact, cat feces contacting, eating raw meat, eating restaurant food, smoking, washing vegetables, duration of hemodialysis, transplantation, family history of T. gondii, surgery operation and history of disease were not significantly associated with seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG. The prevalence of T. gondii infection among HD patients in Mukalla city was high. Therefore, we recommend monitoring these patients for T. gondii infection to minimize the spreading of toxoplasmosis via treating the seropositive patients with the available commercial drugs.