Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among HIV Patients in Jahrom, Southern Iran

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic agent especially in immunocompromised hosts and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Hence, detection and monitoring of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies are of a great interest in HIV-infected patients. A study on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and associated risk factors was carried out among HIV-infected patients in Jahrom, southern Iran. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was 21.1% in HIV-infected patients by ELISA. PCR was performed on all of the samples, and 1 of the blood samples was positively detected. Among the HIV patients, anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were significantly higher in age group of 30-39 years old (P=0.05). The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients with CD4⁺<100 cells/μl was 33.3% that was significantly higher than the other groups (P=0.042) with or without IgG antibodies. The CD4⁺ count mean of seropositive patients was lower than that of seronegative patients. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy was significantly less than patients without therapy (P=0.02). In conclusion, this study showed low seroprevalence of latent toxoplasmosis among HIV-infected patients in the region and confirmed the need for intensifying prevention efforts among this high-risk population and also the risk of toxoplasmosis reactivation which could be important among this population.

Keywords: HIV patient; IgG; Iran; Jahrom; PCR; Toxoplasma gondii; seroprevalence.

Fig. 1

PCR amplification products of Toxoplasma gondii B1 gene among HIV patient’s serum sample. Lane M, molecular weight marker (GeneRuler™ 100 bp Plus DNA Ladder, Fermentas UAB, Vilnius, Lithuania); 1–3, negative samples, 4, positive sample; 5, negative control (H₂O instead of DNA); 6, positive control (DNA of Toxoplasma tachyzoites).