title: Seroprevalence of acquired toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected and apparently healthy individuals in Jos, Nigeria.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody seroprevalence was studied in two different populations of 219 HIV-infected patients and 144 apparently healthy individuals (AHIs). Clinical toxoplasmosis was assessed among the HIV-infected patients. Antibodies to T. gondii were detected in 85 (38.8%, 95% CI: 32.36%-45.26%) of the HIV-infected patients and in 30 (20.8%, 95% CI: 14.20%-27.46%) of the AHIs. Among the AIHs, males represented 22.0% of infections compared to females (20.0%) and individuals within age group 21-30 years accounted for the highest prevalence of 33.3% (95% CI: 11.56%-55.10%). There was no significant difference in the trend (Chi-square, P < or = 0.05). Assessment of epidemiological factors showed higher seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies among those who eat rodents (29.6%) and those who constantly have contact with the soil (21.2%). Among the HIV-infected, individuals 31-40-years-old had the highest T. gondii seroprevalence (36.5%). Evaluation of the clinical findings of patients with concomitant toxoplasmosis and HIV infection greatly implicated fever (63.5%), headache (44.7%), rashes (41.2%) and anorexia (34.1%). This study contributes to the development of guidelines for the prevention and management of toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients and in apparently healthy individuals in a resource scarce setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B. 053, Abakaliki, Nigeria. unekecj@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Uneke
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Duhlinska
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Njoku
authors.forename: B A F
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ngwu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D016266:Food Parasitology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000469:parasitology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D012377:Rodentia / Q000469:parasitology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012987:Soil