SEROPREVALENCE OF Toxoplasma gondii AMONG HIV PATIENTS IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

T. gondii infection among immune compromised individuals can result in fatal outcomes. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and effect of demography on the seroprevalence of T. gondii among HIV patients. Blood specimens were collected from 1500 subjects consisting of 1200 HIV patients and 300 apparently healthy non- HIV subjects. The HIV patients comprised 936 on Anti retroviral therapy (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) and 264 HAART-naïve HIV patients. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio dermography. The blood specimens were used to determine CD4 counts using flow cytometry as well as to detect IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii using immunochromarographic kits. Of the 1500 blood specimens, 329 (21.93%) had antibodies to T. gondii. HIV irrespective of treatment status was a risk factor for acquiring T. gondii infection (OR=7.892, 95% CI= 4.460. 13.963; P=0.0001). Acute T. gondii infection was significantly higher among HAART- naïve HIV patients (P= 0.0152). Among HIV patients on HAART (OR= 13.229, 95% CI= 8.480, 20.635; P<0.0001) and HAART-naïve HIV patients (OR=14.123, 95% CI 7.519, 26.528; P<0.0001), regardless of treatment status, CD4 count less than 200 cells/µL was associated with T. gondii infection. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was significantly higher among HIV patients with no formal education, married and having residence in rural environments, living in one room and having contacts with cows, been on HAART for one year or less and having no history of sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim prophylaxis (P<0.05). Measures to reduce T. gondii infection among HIV patients are advocated.