Comparative Study of Elisa and Lat Techniques  For the Serological Prevalence of Anti–Toxoplasma  Antibodies Among Hiv Infected Patients

Sucilathangam G; Anna T; Velvizhi G

Volume : II, Issue : X, October - 2013

Comparative Study of Elisa and Lat Techniques For the Serological Prevalence of Anti–Toxoplasma Antibodies Among Hiv Infected Patients

Sucilathangam G, Anna T, Velvizhi G

Abstract :

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease distributed worldwide, is an infection caused by the ubiquitous obligatory intracellular coccidian protozoan organism, Toxoplasma gondii. It is a major public health concern because the disease is serious in terms of mortality or physical and /or psychological sequellae in patients with HIV disease. Different methods like Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) and Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA) are available for the detection of anti–Toxoplasma antibody. The study was planned to conduct a comparative evaluation of ELISA and LAT techniques to assess the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies and associated risk factors in HIV infected patients. Venous blood samples were collected from 72 HIV infected pre anti–retroviral therapy patients at ART centre of Tirunelveli Medical college hospital. Serum samples were analyzed for anti–Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using a commercially available ELISA kit and Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) kit. Socio–demographic and associated risk factors for Toxoplasmosis from each individual were also obtained and the data was analyzed using SPSS version 18. Of the examined HIV seropositive individuals by ELISA, 23.6% (17/72) and 5.6% (4/72) were positive for anti–T.gondii IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. By LAT, 2.8 %( 2/72) and 1.4 %( 1/72) were positive for anti–T.gondii IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Comparatively, ELISA was found to be a more sensitive test. Strategies are required to prevent risk of spread of toxoplasmosis at institutional level. Public health education should be implemented regarding this disease and prevention, risk factors, and its negative influence–a significant contribution