Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in children with malignancy

ABSTRACT

The study aimed at the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in 73 children with malignancy; 31 with lymphoma [22 with Hodgkin's and 9 with non- Hodgkin's lymphoma] and 42 with leukemia [34 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 8 with acute myelogenic leukemia]. In positive cases, toxoplasmosis was manifested by any of the following; fever, lymph node enlargement, neurological manifestations and/or hepatosplenomegaly. The indirect hemagglutination test [IHA] for toxoplasmosis detected four [5.4%] positive cases with malignancy [two with Hodgkin's lymphoma, one with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and one with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. The immunoglobulin M enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [IgM ELISA] detected only one [1.4%] case with Hodgkin's lymphoma. Immunoglobulin G [IgG] ELISA detected six [8.2%] positive cases [three with Hodgkin's lymphoma, one with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and two cases with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. Polymerase chain reaction for detection of parasite DNA in blood [PCR] was the most useful in diagnosing toxoplasmosis with malignancy, as it was able to detect nine [12.3%] positive cases [five [6.8%] with Hodgkin's lymphoma, one [1.4%] with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and three [4.1%] with acute lymphoblastic leukemia]. No positive toxoplasmosis cases were detected with acute myelogenic leukemia by any of the above methods: