Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turk Hijyen ve Deneysel Biyoloji Dergisi, cilt.81, sa.4, ss.409-418, 2024 (Scopus, TRDizin)
Objective: In Turkey HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients’ number is gradually increasing currently and there are only two Toxoplasma seroprevalence studies published from one center in the literature. The aim of this study was to reveal the seropositivity rate in our center and to contribute to control measures with the data obtained. Methods: All patients, who were diagnosed with HIV infection from 1985 to today and followed from 1995 to 2024 at the Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology HIV outpatient clinics and (starting from the Marmara University Faculty of Medicine University Hospital period) whose Anti-Toxoplasma IgG test results could be obtained, were included in the study. The patients’ age, gender, sexual orientation, CD4 T lymphocyte counts, and Anti-Toxoplasma IgG results were recorded. Cerebral toxoplasmosis diagnosed patients were found from records. Results: A total of 916 HIV/AIDS diagnosed patients with Anti-Toxoplasma IgG test results were included in the study. 88.1% of the patients (n=807) were male. The average age of all patients was 36.9 years (±11.4 years; min-max: 18–81 years). The median CD4 T lymphocyte count was 369.0, and the mean was 408.9 (±275.34; min-max: 0.0-1659.0). 41.3% of all patients (n=378) were men who have sex with men (MSM). The mean age in the MSM group was 32.5 years (±9.9 years; min-max: 18–81 years). 9.4% of all patients (n=86) and 78.9% of women (n=86) were in childbearing age (18–49 years). The seropositivity rate for Toxoplasma gondii was found to be 36.5%. A statistically significant difference was detected in the seropositivity rates, with 46% among women and 28% in the MSM group. Conclusion: In this study, a seropositivity rate of 36.5% was found in HIV-infected patients at our center, which is close to seroprevalance rate in general population (30%) and it has been observed that there has been a decrease in this rate over the last 20 years. The seropositivity is significantly lower in the MSM group, which has a lower mean age. In the follow-up of HIV/AIDS diagnosed and anti-Toxoplasma IgG negative individuals, reminding transmission ways, risk factors, and preventive measures at the time of initial diagnosis and during each visit will contribute to reducing the Toxoplasma burden in our country.