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Problem statement: In situations of immunodeficiency, Toxoplasma gondii emerges as a life-threatening infection. Toxoplasma gondii is transmitted parenterally, flourish in immunocompromised subjects and, most toxoplasma infections are asymptomatic. Studies have shown that there is a immunodeficiency in renal failure patient such as hemodialysis patients and these patients have a high risk for many infections. There is no evidence about toxoplasmosis in hemodialysis patients in Iran. Approach: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies in hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure. This case-control study was carried out on 44 hemodialysis patients and 44 healthy controls for the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies by ELISA. Anti-IgG, IgM and IgA T. gondii antibodies positivity were found to be 26 (59.10%), 3 (6.80%) and 3 (6.80%) of the 44 hemodialysis patients, respectively and 16 (36.40%) of the 44 control subjects were Anti-IgG T. gondii antibodies positivity and all of control subjects were negative for Anti-IgM and IgA T. gondii antibodies. The difference between them was statistically significant (p = 0.032). In addition, an increase of the seropositivity rate was detected with increasing length of time on hemodialysis treatment, indicating a statistically significant difference between these 2 parameters (p Key words: Haemodialysis, anti-toxoplasma antibodies, ELISA, IgG, IgA, IgM, INTRODUCTION Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic disease caused by the parasitic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii (Chen and Tan, 2009). This parasite is an obligate intracellular organism and is found in two [...]

Confirmation of a positive or negative test for toxoplasmosis in pregnant women by an independent laboratory can reduce the number of abortions. Toxoplasmosis is a serious infection that can kill the fetus, so many women with a positive test have an abortion. However, some tests are not completely accurate and should always be confirmed.

The best way to detect congenital toxoplasmosis in pregnant women is to use the polymerase chain reaction to identify the organism that causes it in amniotic fluid. This organism can seriously damage the newborn baby if it is transmitted before or during childbirth.

Using positron emission tomography along with a Toxoplasma blood test in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who have documented brain lesions may non-invasively distinguish patients with toxoplasmosis from those with lymph cancer. Positron emission tomography is an imaging technique that prints internal cross-sectional images that highlight pockets of metabolism activity. Doctors evaluated positron emission tomography scans and Toxoplasma blood tests of 18 patients with AIDS who had documented brain lesions and recommended therapy based on the outcomes of these tests. They accurately distinguished patients with lymph cancer from those with toxoplasmosis or other conditions in 17 of the 18 cases. Only one patient required a brain biopsy to determine a diagnosis. Eight patients had toxoplasmosis, six patients had lymph cancer, and four patients had other conditions.

As medical interventions prolong the lives of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), we have begun to observe multiple infections occurring simultaneously in a single patient. This report describes two [...]

The history of toxoplasmosis began in 1923 with the first published description of a human case, a congenitally infected baby. Toxoplasma gondii had been recognised 15 years earlier, but it [...]

* Pulmonary toxoplasmosis is a rarely recognized opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. A few case reports have described pulmonary toxoplasmosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in association with Toxoplasma gondii central nervous system disease. We encountered six cases of pulmonary toxoplasmosis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients, who presented with a protracted febrile illness, respiratory symptoms, and an abnormal chest roentgenogram in the absence of neurologic findings. No clinical or roentgenographic features distinguished T gondii pneumonitis from more common opportunistic pulmonary infections. As the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic progresses, the presenting illnesses have evolved. Toxoplasma gondii must be considered a potential cause of pulmonary disease during the evaluation of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with respiratory symptoms. (Arch Intern Med. 1992; 152:1073-1077)

One of the neurologic complications of AIDS is the development of mass lesions of the brain (abnormalities that appear on brain scans as masses or tumors), a common cause of which is toxoplasmosis (an infection). However, debate exists concerning whether this diagnosis should be verified by brain biopsy before treatment starts, or whether treatment should be started based on clinical evidence (empiric therapy). Factors that affect this decision are the risks and benefits of toxoplasmosis therapy, the risks of biopsy, and the risks of delaying a diagnosis of another condition. A study was carried out of 59 patients who had brain mass lesions and risk factors for AIDS to determine how best to predict the probability that a patient had toxoplasmosis. Patients with a high probability of this disease would be candidates for empiric treatment, while those with a low probability would be candidates for biopsy. The patients' charts were reviewed and the results of diagnostic tests noted. Thirty-two patients met the diagnostic criteria for toxoplasmosis; criteria included response to therapy (21 cases), biopsy (10), or results from autopsy (5). More than one diagnostic approach was used in some cases. Of the 32 patients who underwent biopsy, only 10 had toxoplasmosis. To estimate the probability of toxoplasmosis using different independent diagnostic indicators, Bayes' theorem was used. It appeared that the effect of a positive result on a type of brain scan (computerized tomography or CT, using contrast material) increased the probability of toxoplasmosis to 0.68; if a positive result on a blood test for toxoplasmosis is included, the probability rises to 0.81. On the other hand, patients without the CT finding and negative results on the blood test have a probability of having toxoplasmosis of only 0.14. The results show that a method can be developed for estimating the probability that a person with a mass lesion who is at risk for AIDS has toxoplasmosis. Patients with typical features of the disease should be given empiric therapy, while those whose disease has less typical features are better candidates for brain biopsy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii, which is transmitted in the feces of cats. The diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis is usually based on identification of the proliferative form of the organism in the eye. Ocular toxoplasmosis leads to retinochoroiditis, or inflammation of the retina and choroid (the sensory and vascular inner layers of the eyeball), and can cause blindness. It is diagnosed by a toxoplasmosis lesion in the fundus (the back portion of the interior of the eye) and a positive blood test for toxoplasma antibodies (which indicate the presence of toxoplasma organisms). In evaluating a patient with retinitis, other causes must be ruled out. The benchmark test for ocular toxoplasmosis was the Sabine-Feldman dye test, but it has been replaced by immunofluorescent antibody testing, which is relatively easy to perform. However, interpretation of the results of the immunofluorescent antibody test for antitoxoplasma, Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies can be misleading. False positive and false negative results can be due to the presence of other elements in the patient's blood, such as rheumatoid factor, and antinuclear antibodies. Three cases are presented in which the limitations of this immunologic test are demonstrated. All three patients had negative IgG immunofluorescent antibody tests, but positive Sabin-Feldman tests. The patients were treated for toxoplasmosis and experienced improvement in their vision; no recurrence in their symptoms was noted during one year of follow-up. When ocular toxoplasmosis is suspected and the immunofluorescent antibody test result is negative, the Sabin-Feldman dye test, a more specific (enzyme-linked) immunoassay titre or both are recommended before the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is excluded. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Sharing homes with pets is a way of life for many Americans-at least 60 percent by some estimates. And the companionship, affection and trust of pets can provide distinct health [...]

Signs and symptoms Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite. (1-6) Exposure to T. gondii has been estimated at 30% in the United States and 50% to 80% in Europe. (2) [...]

A 19-year-old college student comes to your office because of increasing, generalized, throbbing headache and blurred vision of 10 days' duration. She denies a history of fever, chills, neck stiffness, [...]