María Luz Galván-Ramírez1, Laura V Sánchez-Orozco2, Jorge Andrade-Sierra3, Salvador Mendoza-Cabrera3, Luis Alberto Evangelista-Carrillo3, Laura R Rodríguez Pérez1, Erwin Chiquete4, Juan Armendáriz-Borunda2,5. 1. Department of Physiology, Neurophysiology Laboratory, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México. 2. Institute for Molecular Biology in Medicine, Health Sciences University Center, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México. 3. Department of Nephrology, and Transplant, Western National Medical Center of the Mexican Social Security Institute, Guadalajara, Mexico. 4. Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Salvador Zubiran National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, Mexico City, Mexico. 5. Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Solid organ transplant recipients are highly susceptible to Toxoplasma gondii infection. We aimed to describe the 12-month follow-up risk of seroconversion in renal transplant recipients. METHODOLOGY: Anti-T gondii antibodies were investigated in donors and recipients of renal transplants. In donors, anti-T gondii were evaluated before transplantation. In recipients, anti-T gondii were monitored over a 12-month period to evaluate potential seroconversion or reactivation. IgG and IgM anti-T gondii antibodies were investigated through enzyme immunoassay and Western blot. Molecular diagnosis was performed on peripheral blood leukocytes using PCR to amplify fragments corresponding to the T gondii B1 gene and the repetitive 529-bp element. RESULTS: The basal frequency of seropositive IgG anti-T gondii antibodies was higher in donors than in recipients (38.4% vs 25.2%; P = .03). During the 12-month follow-up, the accumulated seroconversion to IgG and IgM antibodies was 3/99 (3.0%), and the accumulated reactivation was 11/99 (11.0%). None of the samples exhibited positivity to T gondii DNA. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there is an increased risk of seroconversion or reactivation in renal transplant recipients over a 12-month follow-up. Our data suggest that prophylaxis with trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole effectively prevented toxoplasmosis, since neither T gondii DNA nor clinical toxoplasmosis was detected.
PURPOSE: Solid organ transplant recipients are highly susceptible to Toxoplasma gondii infection. We aimed to describe the 12-month follow-up risk of seroconversion in renal transplant recipients. METHODOLOGY: Anti-T gondii antibodies were investigated in donors and recipients of renal transplants. In donors, anti-T gondii were evaluated before transplantation. In recipients, anti-T gondii were monitored over a 12-month period to evaluate potential seroconversion or reactivation. IgG and IgM anti-T gondii antibodies were investigated through enzyme immunoassay and Western blot. Molecular diagnosis was performed on peripheral blood leukocytes using PCR to amplify fragments corresponding to the T gondii B1 gene and the repetitive 529-bp element. RESULTS: The basal frequency of seropositive IgG anti-T gondii antibodies was higher in donors than in recipients (38.4% vs 25.2%; P = .03). During the 12-month follow-up, the accumulated seroconversion to IgG and IgM antibodies was 3/99 (3.0%), and the accumulated reactivation was 11/99 (11.0%). None of the samples exhibited positivity to T gondii DNA. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that there is an increased risk of seroconversion or reactivation in renal transplant recipients over a 12-month follow-up. Our data suggest that prophylaxis with trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole effectively prevented toxoplasmosis, since neither T gondii DNA nor clinical toxoplasmosis was detected.