The Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Hemodialysis Patients

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that can infect a wide range of hosts including humans. Humans are infected through raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts and ingesting oocysts through contaminated food, water supplies and gardening. Infection with T. gondii is characterized by acute and chronic phases, which are distinct with regards to the developmental stage of the parasite and the sites of parasite persistence (1). However, Toxoplasma infection is mostly asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals but it may be life threatening in immunocompromised cases (2). There is some evidence that chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis are susceptible to acquire various infections (3). This study aimed to illustrate the clinical manifestations of toxoplasmosis in haemodialysis patients and seroconversion rates of T. gondii.