title: The relationship between ocular toxoplasmosis and levels of specific toxoplasma antibodies.
abstract: The relationship between ocular toxoplasmosis and levels of toxoplasma specific antibodies was examined in 195 patients. Using clinical information collected by questionnaires, patients were divided into: 97 with ocular toxoplasmosis (group 1) and 98 with ocular lesions not due to toxoplasma (group 2). The geometric mean of dye test titres (+/-S.D. natural log titre) in group 1 was 53.2 (+/-0.95) compared with 24.6 (+/-1.11) in group 2 (P < 0.001). Young females tended to have more active lesions compared with young males (P < 0.05). There was an age-dependent difference in dye test titres between the groups (P < 0.001). Group 1 showed a decline in titre with age compared with an increase in group 2. Ocular toxoplasmosis was diagnosed most frequently among 21-30 year olds. More group 1 patients had dye test titres > or = 65 iu/ml than group 2 (P < 0.05). Dye test titres > or = 65 iu/ml support a diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis whereas lower titres suggest other causes for eye lesions.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory, Microbiology Department, Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust, Inverness.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ashburn
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ogston
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Ho-Yen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014126:Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D004396:Coloring Agents