| Summary: | Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by an important opportunistic pathogen, Toxoplasma gondii. Infection with T. gondii is often asymptomatic but it can be lethal in immunocompromised patients. Therefore, a cross-sectional study with purposive sampling had been conducted in order to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection in 171 patients with chronic renal diseases. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 138 of chronic renal patients who received renal transplants were categorized in renal transplant recipient group and 33 patients of chronic renal disorders who have not received renal transplants and other diseases were selected as a control group. The serological Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) was used to detect the presence of IgG anti-Toxoplasma in sera from both groups. This study showed that the prevalence of T. gondii infection in control and renal transplant patients were 39.4% and 30.4%, respectively. Furthermore, there was no significant association between post-transplantation period and pattern in prevalence of T. gondii infection, however, it was noted that the prevalence rates of T. gondii had increased after 6 months post transplantation. In addition to that, the significant correlation occurring between mean titer of IgG where the values increased from 2.68 to 7.14 with the duration of renal postransplantation. Therefore, the prevalence of infection among renal transplant patients may reduce if screening tests are not being neglected. Patients with chronic renal disease should also be administered with prophylaxis and followed up for toxoplasmosis to prevent severe complications after transplantation procedure.
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