Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in newly diagnosed HIV seropositive patients

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Immunocompromised individuals mainly HIV infected patients are at a great risk for developing toxoplasmosis. The presence of toxoplasmosis among HIV-infected patients directly correlates with the prevalence of anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the degree of immunosuppression (measured by CD4 counts). The data regarding the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients are scarce in India. Therefore, this study was initiated to find out the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in treatment-naïve HIV seropositive patients and to determine its association with CD4 counts, if any. METHODS: Four hundred newly diagnosed antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve adult HIV positive patients coming for CD4 count estimation were tested for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies. Risk factors for acquisition of toxoplasmosis as well as the age, gender and CD4 counts of the patient were noted down. RESULTS: Toxoplasma IgG was positive in 292 (73%) patients, and the positivity was not related to their CD4 counts. The proportion of anti-Toxoplasma IgG positivity showed no significant association with age, gender and risk factors of the patients. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of any specific vaccine or prophylaxis for toxoplasmosis, it is pertinent to screen all HIV-positive patients for Toxoplasma IgG at diagnosis, irrespective of their CD4 counts, and sensitize them about the means to prevent either acquisition or activation of infection to avert the development of toxoplasmic encephalitis.