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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among HIV Positive Patients under Surveillance in Greek Infectious Disease Units: A Screening Study with Comparative Evaluation of Serological Methods

Authors :
Chrysa Voyiatzaki
Apollon Dareios Zare Chormizi
Maria E. Tsoumani
Antonia Efstathiou
Konstantinos Konstantinidis
Dimitrios Chaniotis
Georgios Chrysos
Aikaterini Argyraki
Vasileios Papastamopoulos
Marika Kotsianopoulou
Source :
Pathogens, Vol 13, Iss 5, p 375 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

This study aims to screen for IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in the sera of 155 newly diagnosed Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients under surveillance in Greek Infectious Disease Units. Additionally, risk factors based on patient demographics were examined, and a comparative evaluation of commercially available serological methods was conducted. Three methods were employed to detect IgG antibodies against T. gondii: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Indirect Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT), and Western Blot (WB), which was used as a reference here. Forty-nine sera samples were true-positive for IgG antibodies against T. gondii, resulting in a 31.61% positivity rate, and the immunoassay test statistical reliability analysis resulted in higher IFAT accuracy (90.97%) compared to ELISA (76.26%). Furthermore, statistical analysis of demographic and immunological data included in the study placed female and foreign/non-Greek individuals at 2.24 (p = 0.0009) and 2.34 (p = 0.0006) times higher risk of positive T. gondii IgG testing compared to their male and Greek counterparts, respectively. Our findings on positivity rates and comparative serology underscore the importance of early and suitable screening measures for newly diagnosed HIV+ patients to mitigate the life-threatening outcomes that may arise from a potential subsequent T. gondii activation.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20760817
Volume :
13
Issue :
5
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Pathogens
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.4c1875ee6e64e08b7312697c7b2291c
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13050375