title: Toxoplasma gondii - Prevalence and Risk Factors in HIV-infected Patients from Songklanagarind Hospital, Southern Thailand.
abstract: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common opportunistic parasitic diseases in patients living with HIV/AIDS. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection in HIV-infected patients and to identify associated risk factors in Toxoplasma seropositive patients. This study was conducted at a regional public hospital in Hat Yai, southern Thailand during October 2009 to June 2010. Blood samples were collected from 300 HIV-infected patients. Each subject also answered a socio-demographic and risk factors associated with Toxoplasma infection. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in HIV-infected patients was 109 (36.3%), of which 83 (76.2%) had past infection and 26 (23.9%) had recently acquired Toxoplasma infection as indicated by their IgG avidity. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed that gender difference (adjusted OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.05-2.72) was the only factor associated with Toxoplasma infection. From the results obtained, these HIV-infected patients could be at high risk of developing clinical evidence of severe toxoplasmosis. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce primary behavioral practices to prevent Toxoplasma infection among HIV-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Waenurama
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chemoh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nongyao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sawangjaroen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Pisut
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siripaitoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hemah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andiappan
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thanaporn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hortiwakul
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Natthawan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sermwittayawong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University Hat Yai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Bunsri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Charoenmak
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Veeranoot
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nissapatorn
keywords: HIV; IgG avidity; risk factors; seroprevalence; toxoplasmosis