Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common opportunistic parasitic diseases in patients living with HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in HIV-infected patients and to identify associated risk factors in Toxoplasma seropositive patients. This study was conducted at a regional public hospital in Hat Yai, southern Thailand during October 2009 to June 2010. Blood samples were collected from 300 HIV-infected patients. Each subject also answered a socio-demographic and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in HIV-infected patients was 109 (36.3%), of which 83 (76.2%) had past infection and 26 (23.9%) had recently acquired Toxoplasma infection as indicated by their IgG avidity. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed that gender difference (adjusted OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.05–2.72) was the only factor associated with Toxoplasma infection. From the results obtained, these HIV-infected patients could be at high risk of developing clinical evidence of severe toxoplasmosis. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce primary behavioral practices to prevent Toxoplasma infection among HIV-infected patients.
Highlights
Toxoplasmosis is a clinical and/or pathological evidence of a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite
The information on related socio-demographic such as age, sex, and occupation as well as risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection, such as close contact with cats, consumption of uncooked meats, a history of receiving blood transfusion, and some clinical backgrounds such as receiving primary chemoprophylaxis and/or receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
This study identified that gender and a history of having cerebral toxoplasmosis were statistically significant factors associated with Toxoplasma seropositivity (p < 0.05)
Summary
Toxoplasmosis is a clinical and/or pathological evidence of a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. IgG avidity testing, a qualitative method, is the first ever serodiagnostic method to be introduced in differentiating chronic from recently acquired Toxoplasma infection in these patients. This method definitely helps in better understanding the status of Toxoplasma infection and its proper management in HIV patients. It is, relevant to conduct an epidemiological study of toxoplasmosis by determining the seroprevalence, the association with risk factors and the measurement of IgG avidity from Toxoplasma seropositive patients
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