+1 (629)348-3199PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN HIV/AIDS PATIENTS; A CURRENT SITUATION IN ALBANIA
4th International Conference on Tropical Medicine, Infectious Diseases & Public Health
September 7-8, 2017 | Edinburgh, Scotland
Abazaj Erjona, Dervishi Marjeta, Petri Oltiana, Hysaj Brunilda, Ali Ela, Bino Silva, Qyra Shpetim, Meta Esmeralda and Tanka Marjeta
Institute of Public Health, Albania
Hospital Center “Mother Theresa”, Albania
Posters & Accepted Abstracts : J Parasit Dis Diagn Ther
Abstract:
Toxoplasma gondii is a single-celled parasite that causes the disease known as toxoplasmosis. In immunosuppressed (AIDS) patients, this infection can develop into fatal toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE). The study aim was to evaluate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and also to identify risk factors associated with Toxo-seropositive in immunosuppressed patients. A prospective human serosurvey for toxoplasmosis was conducted at the HIV clinic in the University Hospital Center “Mother Theresa” from March 2010 to January 2017. Patients enrolled in the antiretroviral (ARV) treatment programme were invited to participate. Patient`s sera were analysed for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by NovaLisa Toxoplasma gondii ELISA (from NovaTec, Germany). Results were analyzed with the aid of the software SPSS 20.0. Confidence interval (CI) 95% and adjusted odd ratio (OR) were calculated. The prevalence of infection with T. Gondii varies from 3.93% for recently aquired infection (anti-Toxo IgM) to 43.3% for past infection (anti-Toxo IgG). The average age was 39.38 ± 24.4 years with min 18 to maximum 72 years old. Multivariate analysis showed that gender difference (OR = 3.579, 95% CI [1.58 to 8.04] p value =0.0021) and presence of cats in their house (OR = 6.11, 95% CI [2.70 to 13.80] p value < 0.0001) were the only factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection. The seropsitivity of these infection HIV-infected patients were very higher and could be at high risk of developing clinical evidence of severe toxoplasmosis. So, the screening of this community it is necessary to introduce primary behavioral practices to prevent Toxoplasma infection among HIVinfected patients.
Biography:
Erjona Abazaj is currently working as a Biologist/Parasitologist in the Laboratory of Parasitology, Institute of Public Health (IPH), Tirana, Albania where he has continued his research. She has been Graduated from 2002 as Biologist, with Diploma in Microbiology from the University of Tirana, Faculty of Natural Science, Tirana, Albania. Later in 2005 she has completed her Master`s Degree from the same faculty with subjects with gastrointestianl diseases and in 2009 she has completed her PhD with research focus centered on the recognition of Toxoplasma gondii in the Albania population by using immunological and molecular methods. Presently she is working at the at the University of Medicine in Tirana, Albania as the lecturer.
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