Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection among HIV/AIDS Patients in Eastern China.
- Author:
Guoqiang SHEN
1
;
Xiaoming WANG
;
Hui SUN
;
Yaying GAO
Author Information
- Publication Type:Brief Communication
- Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; HIV/AIDS; seroprevalence; eastern China
- MeSH: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/complications; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood; China/epidemiology; Female; HIV Infections/*complications; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Male; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Toxoplasma; Toxoplasmosis/*complications/*epidemiology
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2016;54(1):93-96
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Toxoplasmosis, a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, occurs throughout the world. Human T. gondii infection is asymptomatic in 80% of the population; however, the infection is life-threatening and causes substantial neurologic damage in immunocompromised patients such as HIV-infected persons. The major purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in subjects infected with HIV/AIDS in eastern China. Our findings showed 9.7% prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in HIV/AIDS patients, which was higher than in intravenous drug users (2.2%) and healthy controls (4.7%), while no significant difference was observed in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody among all participants (P>0.05). Among all HIV/AIDS patients, 15 men (7.7%) and 10 women (15.9%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibody; however, no significant difference was detected in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody between males and females. The frequency of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody was 8.0%, 13.2%, 5.5%, and 0% in patients with normal immune function (CD4+ T-lymphocyte count ≥500 cells/ml), immunocompromised patients (cell count ≥200 and <500 cells/ml), severely immunocompromised patients (cell count ≥50 and <200 cells/ml), and advanced AIDS patients, respectively (cell count <50 cells/ml), while only 3 immunocompromised patients were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibody. The results indicate a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in HIV/AIDS patients in eastern China, and a preventive therapy for toxoplasmosis may be given to HIV/AIDS patients based on CD4+ T lymphocyte count.
