<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> IgG antibodies in HIV/AIDS patients attending hospitals in Makurdi metropolis, Benue state, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that gradually evolved to be the most opportunistic parasite that complicates the course of HIV/AIDS in developing countries. Aim: This study was undertaken to investigate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies in HIVinfected patients attending hospitals in Makurdi metropolis, Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to determine the presence of Toxo-IgG antibodies in blood samples collected from the HIV/AIDS patients and their CD₄ counts were estimated using flow cytometry. Questionnaires were also administered to obtain information on their socio-demographic status. Results: Thirty-nine, 39 (10.8%) were screened positive for Toxo-IgG antibodies out of the 360 HIV/AIDS patients enrolled. Males (10.3%) and females (11.2%) had similar seroprevalence of Toxo-IgG with no significant difference (χ² = 0.001, p>0.05). The presence of Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was found to be highest in the ≥ 54 years age group. A significant difference was observed in the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgG among age groups (χ²=11.56, p<0.05). Females with CD₄ T-cell count ≤ 200 cells/mm³ recorded higher seroprevalence (73.7%) of Toxoplasma IgG. There was no significant difference in the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgG in relation to CD₄ T-cell counts (χ² = 2.3, p > 0.05). Conclusion: Further investigations are still needed to clarify the exact relationship of the parasite infection, its effects on the HIVinfected and uninfected individuals and the detection of their major means of transmission.

Keywords: Toxoplasma, IgG, antibodies, HIV/AIDS, Hospitals, Nigeria