title: Frequency of Toxoplasma gondii in HIV Positive Patients from West of Iran by ELISA and PCR.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasma gondii, the obligate intracellular parasite is life threatening in AIDS patients. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is based on serological methods especially increasing of IgM and IgG titers, but finding of parasite or its components (antigenemia) may be beneficial method in order to detection of acute toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-four serum samples from HIV positive patients were collected from Sanandaj, Kordistan west of Iran. These patients were lived in Sanandaj of whom 26 were prisoners infected with HIV virus in prison. Toxoplasma gondii antibodies were determined by IgG ELISA. T. gondii antigen was identified by capture-ELISA. PCR was performed on samples with T. gondii antigenemia. CD4+ T cells counts had been determined by flowcytometry and were obtained from records of each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the examined HIV seropositive individuals, 19.1% (18/94) and 5.3% (5/94) were positive for Toxoplasma-IgG and antigenemia, respectively. Besides, one of the samples was positively detected by PCR method. Mean age of participants was 37.9 ± 9.5 year. Prevalence of IgG antibody and antgenemia was higher in age group of 40-50 years old. The Mean of CD4+ T cells counts of participants (total of HIV+ patients, IgG positive patients and patients with antigenemia) was 699.2 ± 345.2, 655.1 ± 237.9 and 620.2 ± 215.1 respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Capture-ELISA and PCR could confirm the T. gondii acute infection in HIV positive patients. For precise diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis in HIV positive patient, performance of more studies based on more sensitive types of PCR is suggested.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rostami
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossien
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeedeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shojaee
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran ; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohebali
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Meamar
keywords: Antigenemia; Capture- ELISA; IgG ELISA; PCR; Toxoplasma gondii