LatentToxoplasma gondiiInfection and Associated Risk Factors among HIV-Infected Individuals at Arba Minch Hospital, South Ethiopia

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused byToxoplasma gondii(T. gondii). The parasite has cosmopolitan distribution, infecting almost all species of warm-blooded animals. LatentT. gondiiinfection in HIV/AIDS patients is a risk for development of cerebral toxoplasmosis (CT). The aim of this study is to determine seroprevalence of latentT. gondiiinfection and assess its associated factors among individuals infected with HIV in Arba Minch Hospital, south Ethiopia. A facility-based cross-sectional study involving 170 HIV-infected individuals attending Arba Minch Hospital antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic was conducted from April to June 2013. Data on demographic profile of the study participants and factors associated withT. gondiiinfection were gathered using a questionnaire. Serum was tested for IgG anti-T. gondiiantibody by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Seroprevalence of latentT. gondiiinfection among the study participants was 88.2%. Consumption of raw meat (AOR = 4.361; 95% CI: 1.409–13.496) and involvement in farming/gardening activities (AOR = 4.051; 95% CI: 1.112–14.758) were independent predictors ofT. gondiiseropositivity. This study revealed high prevalence of latentT. gondiiinfection, similar to other studies. Monitoring of the patients to prevent reactivation of the latentT. gondiiinfection is recommended.