Investigation of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in patients with neoplasia

J Med Microbiol. 2004 Dec;53(Pt 12):1183-1186. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.45587-0.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in patients with neoplasia. One hundred and eight patients with neoplasia and 108 healthy controls were studied for the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies using a micro ELISA and peroxidase-labelled anti-human IgG (rabbit) and IgM (goat). Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 68 (63.0 %) patients and in 21 (19.4 %) of the controls, which was a statistically significant difference. In addition, anti- T. gondii IgM antibodies were detected in seven (6.5 %) patients and in one (0.9 %) control. A high percentage of positivity for Toxoplasma antibodies in patients with neoplasia was detected. Therefore, parasitological surveys of this patient group should be periodically performed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M