Abstract
Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an intracellular parasite mainly found in the central nervous system CNS, however, it can persist in multiple tissues in the body. Moreover, T. gondii is the commonest protozoans causing infections among individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of T. gondii infection among AIDS patients in Makkah at Saudi Arabia. Methods: Fifty patients with AIDS proved to be positive by ULTRA HIV Ag-Ab Enzyme Immunoassay, and thirty healthy volunteers negative for AIDS by ULTRA HIV Ag-Ab Enzyme Immunoassay were subjected to determination of anti T. gondii immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody seropositivity and anti T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody seropositivity using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: The results showed that the seropositivity rate of anti T. gondii IgM antibodies among AIDS patients (18%) was significantly higher than in the healthy volunteers group (3.33%). Regarding the serum level of anti T. gondii IgG antibodies among AIDS patients, it was 30% significantly higher compared with those of the seropositive healthy volunteers (6.67%). Conclusions: These statistically significant results support the association between T. gondii infection and AIDS and suggest the usefulness of providing data for an educational program that will be designed to prevent T. gondii infection among AIDS patients.
Highlights
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic infections affecting approximately one-third of the world’s population
Fifty patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) proved to be positive by ULTRA human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Ag-Ab Enzyme Immunoassay, and thirty healthy volunteers negative for AIDS by ULTRA HIV Ag-Ab Enzyme Immunoassay were subjected to determination of anti T. gondii immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody seropositivity and anti T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody seropositivity using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits
The results showed that the seropositivity rate of anti T. gondii IgM antibodies among AIDS patients (18%) was significantly higher than in the healthy volunteers group (3.33%)
Summary
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic infections affecting approximately one-third of the world’s population. The disease may be a recrudescence of a latent infection or a newly acquired toxoplasmic infection It may result from rupture of the cyst and conversion of the bradyzoites into the tachyzoites within the tissue of the retina or elsewhere in the body [1]. T. gondii organisms may infect the central nervous system (CNS) and form cysts in the tissue of normal individuals after systemic toxoplasmosis. T. gondii is the commonest protozoans causing infections among individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Results: The results showed that the seropositivity rate of anti T. gondii IgM antibodies among AIDS patients (18%) was significantly higher than in the healthy volunteers group (3.33%). Regarding the serum level of anti T. gondii IgG antibodies among AIDS patients, it was 30% significantly higher compared with those of the seropositive healthy volunteers (6.67%). Conclusions: These statistically significant results support the association between T. gondii infection and AIDS and suggest the usefulness of providing data for an educational program that will be designed to prevent T. gondii infection among AIDS patients
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