Antibody response to Toxoplasma gondii in saliva samples from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.
Toxoplasma gondii is an important opportunistic infection among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients as it causes fatal encephalitis. In the present study, antibody response to T. gondii is assessed in saliva samples from 100 HIV-seropositive patients and 25 HIV-negative healthy controls by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sensitivity and specificity for detection of IgG and IgM in saliva is calculated using a positive antibody response in serum samples (from an earlier study) as the gold standard. IgG and IgM antibodies were found in 20% and 25% patients, respectively. One control subject showed the presence of IgM antibody. Sensitivity for IgG and IgM antibodies was 64% and 81.25%, respectively, while specificity was 94.67% and 85.71%, respectively. This study indicates that saliva samples can be used as an alternative to serum samples to detect anti-toxoplasma antibodies, particularly IgM, for the diagnosis of toxoplasma encephalitis in HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients.
Department of Parasitology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh-160012, India.
M P
MP
Singh
M L
ML
Dubey
A
A
Sud
N
N
Malla
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology*
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M