Seroprevalence and risk factors for <it>Toxoplasmosis</it> in HIV infected and non-infected individuals in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia

• Main Authors: Walle Fisseha, Kebede Nigatu, Tsegaye Aster, Kassa Tesfu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2013-01-01
• Series: Parasites & Vectors
• Subjects: <it>Toxoplasmosis</it>; <it>Toxoplasma gondii</it>; IgG; IgM; HIV; Seroprevalence
• Online Access: http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/6/1/15

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Toxoplasmosis</it>, a zoonotic disease distributed worldwide, is an infection caused by the ubiquitous obligatory intracellular coccidian protozoan organism, <it>Toxoplasma gondii</it>. It is a major public health concern because the disease is serious in terms of mortality or physical and /or psychological sequellae in patients with HIV disease. The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of <it>Toxoplasma gondii</it> IgG and IgM antibodies and associated risk factors in HIV infected and non-infected individuals attending Felege Hiwot referral hospital, Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross sectional study was conducted at Felege Hiwot referral hospital, Bahir Dar, Amhara National Regional State. Venous blood samples were collected from 103 HIV infected pre anti-retroviral therapy patients at Felege Hiwot referral hospital and 101 HIV negative apparently healthy voluntary blood donors at the blood bank. Serum samples were analyzed for anti-<it>Toxoplasma gondii</it> IgG and IgM antibodies using a commercially available ELISA kit. Socio-demographic and associated risk factors for <it>Toxoplasmosis</it> from each individual were also obtained and the data was analyzed using SPSS version 18.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the examined HIV seropositive individuals, 87.4% (90/103) and 10.7% (11/103) were positive for anti-<it>T</it>. <it>gondii</it> IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Multivariate analysis using logistic regression showed that anti-<it>T. gondii</it> seropositivity was independently significantly associated with undercooked or raw meat consumption (adjusted OR=5.73, 95% CI=1.35-24.39; P=0.02) and having contact with cat (adjusted OR= 4.29, 95% CI=1.08-16.94; P=0.04) in HIV positive individuals. In HIV negative apparently healthy blood donors, prevalence of anti-<it>T. gondii</it> antibodies were 70.29% and 2.97% for IgG and IgM, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that undercooked or raw meat consumption (adjusted OR=6.45, 95% CI=2.16-19.28; p=0.001) and sex (OR=6.79, 95% CI=2.14-21.60; p=0.001) were independently significantly associated with anti-<it>T. gondii</it> IgG seropositivity, with a significantly higher number of males affected than females.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present findings showed a high sero-prevalence of anti-<it>T. gondii</it> antibodies in HIV infected pre-ART and HIV non-infected apparently healthy blood donors in Bahir Dar. Consumption of undercooked or raw meat might greatly contribute towards acquiring <it>T. gondii</it> infection in HIV infected pre-ART and HIV non-infected apparently healthy blood donors. It may be appropriate to include routine serological screening test for determination of anti-<it>T. gondii</it> antibodies in HIV infected pre-ART individuals and HIV negative apparently healthy blood donors. In addition, health education towards avoiding eating undercooked and raw meat, and avoiding contact with cats were recommended.</p>