Serological evaluation of anti-toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies in renal transplant recipient’s before and after transplant by ELFA, ELISA and ISAGA methods

  Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a shared human-animal disease with worldwide distribution caused by Toxoplasma gondii. More than half of the world's population is seropositive for toxoplasmosis. The possibility of reactivation of the old infection or acquisition of infection from donor’s tissue increases in the transplant recipient patients who receive immunosuppressive therapy. In this study, IgM and IgG anti-toxoplasma immunoglobulins seroconversion in renal transplant recipients was evaluated before and after transplantation.   Method: This was a prospective cohort study on a total of 102 recipients. Two serum samples were obtained from each patient. The first sample was taken before administration of any immunosuppressive drugs and second sample was taken 3 months after transplantation. The IgM and IgG anti-toxoplasma antibodies were assayed by ELFA and ELISA techniques. IgM/ISAGA method was also used.   Results: ELFA identified 65 (63.7%) pre-transplantation samples as IgG+ and did not detect any positive IgM samples. However, IgM was detected in 3 (2.9%) post-transplantation samples by this method. Forty nine (48%) pre-transplantation samples were reported IgG+ by ELISA and no IgM positive sample was identified by this method. ELISA method detected 2 (1.9%) IgM positive reactions in post-transplantation samples. By IgM/ISAGA method, we detected no IgM positive reactions in pre-transplantation samples whereas 3 months later (second sampling) IgM antibody was detected in 3 (2.9%) cases.   Conclusion: Secondary toxoplasmosis infection was observed in 30 cases per 1000 recipients, which indicates that screening for toxoplasmosis infection should be performed in developed countries for these patients. On the other hand, as the risk of re-active toxoplasmosis infection exists in developing nations, they should consider the necessary preventive measures to control this condition. In addition, we suggest that ELFA is the best method because of the most valuable results.