Toxoplasma gondii infection among chronic hepatitis C patients: a case-control study
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
;
(12): 589-593, 2014.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-820645
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To determine the detection rate of anti-Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) IgG and IgM in chronic HCV patients attending the Department of Tropical Medicine Mansoura University hospital in Egypt.@*METHODS@#This study included 120 adult chronic HCV patients, 81 decompensate cirrhosis (late-stage) and 39 chronic HCV non cirrhotic patients (early-stage) and 40 healthy blood donors as controls. Serum samples were examined for anti-Toxoplasma IgM and anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by ELISA. Real-time RT-polymerase chain reaction assay was done for quantitation of hepatitis C virus.@*RESULTS@#Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 75 (92.6%) of 81 late-stage cirrhotic patients, 30 (76.9%) of the 39 chronic HCV non cirrhotic patients (early-stage) and in 6 (15%) of 40 controls with statistically significant difference (P<0.001). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in 11 (13.6%) in late stage patients, 5 (12.8%) in early stage and in 3 (7.5%) of controls with no statistical significant difference (P=0.610). There was no correlation between stage of fibrosis and IgM or IgG antibodies positivity in our studied groups (P=0.526). High IgG levels significantly correlated with high viral load (P=0.026).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our findings suggest that the serious opportunistic T. gondii infection represent a potential significant risk for chronic HCV patients. So, toxoplasmosis should be considered in their investigations and follow-up.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Blood
/
Immunoglobulin G
/
Immunoglobulin M
/
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
/
Antibodies, Protozoan
/
Case-Control Studies
/
Toxoplasmosis
/
Epidemiology
/
Hepatitis C, Chronic
/
Egypt
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
Year:
2014
Type:
Article
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