title: Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Infection among HIV/AIDS Patients in Eastern China.
abstract: Toxoplasmosis, a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, occurs throughout the world. Human T. gondii infection is asymptomatic in 80% of the population; however, the infection is life-threatening and causes substantial neurologic damage in immunocompromised patients such as HIV-infected persons. The major purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in subjects infected with HIV/AIDS in eastern China. Our findings showed 9.7% prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in HIV/AIDS patients, which was higher than in intravenous drug users (2.2%) and healthy controls (4.7%), while no significant difference was observed in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody among all participants (P>0.05). Among all HIV/AIDS patients, 15 men (7.7%) and 10 women (15.9%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibody; however, no significant difference was detected in the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody between males and females. The frequency of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody was 8.0%, 13.2%, 5.5%, and 0% in patients with normal immune function (CD4(+) T-lymphocyte count ≥500 cells/ml), immunocompromised patients (cell count ≥200 and <500 cells/ml), severely immunocompromised patients (cell count ≥50 and <200 cells/ml), and advanced AIDS patients, respectively (cell count <50 cells/ml), while only 3 immunocompromised patients were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibody. The results indicate a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in HIV/AIDS patients in eastern China, and a preventive therapy for toxoplasmosis may be given to HIV/AIDS patients based on CD4(+) T lymphocyte count.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wuxi No. 9 People's Hospital, 999 Liangxi Road, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province 214062, China.
authors.forename: Guoqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wuxi No. 9 People's Hospital, 999 Liangxi Road, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province 214062, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wuxi No. 9 People's Hospital, 999 Liangxi Road, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province 214062, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wuxi No. 9 People's Hospital, 999 Liangxi Road, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province 214062, China.
authors.forename: Yaying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Toxoplasma gondii; eastern China; seroprevalence