Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondi Antibodies in HIV/Aids Patients and Healthy Blood Donors in Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea

A seroepidemiological survey was conducted at Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) over a 24 month period (1st March 2003—31st March 2005). The aim of the study was to determine seroprevalance of toxoplasma gondi in HIV infected patients and seronegative healthy blood donors. The population was unmatched but complete data was obtained for some important sociodemographic characteristics. These were compared to see if there were any risk factors for acquisition of toxoplasmosis seropositivity. Blood samples of 181 consecutive HIV infected patients and 120 consecutive healthy blood donors were tested for toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using the enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA) technique. The study showed that 59.7% of the HIV infected population and 40.1% of the Healthy Blood donors were positive for toxoplasma antibodies, giving the overall prevalence of 52.2%, for the study population. The two important independent risk factors that showed significant correlations with toxoplasma antibody positivity were regional grouping (Highlands origin) and exposure to cats. This study revealed that toxoplasma antibody is prevalent in the community and would be a major health problem amongst the immuno-compromised population, notably the HIV infected patients. Toxoplasma infection is anticipated to increase with the current HIV/AIDS epidemic in PNG. The Health Authorities need to be made aware of this problem, now, so they can formulate preventive and management policies for PNG, for the future.