فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite, and causes zoonoticinfection. Human latent toxoplasmosis occurs in about half the world's populationthough most cases are asymptomatic. Toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) has become one of themore frequent opportunistic infection in HIV infected patients.Methods: This retrospective and descriptive study was carried out at the Referral BehavioralCounseling and Modification Center in Shiraz, Iran. We were able to review the medicalrecords of 208 HIV infected patients. They were examined and their records werescreened via the standardized data collection sheet for demographic characteristics. Diagnosesof TEbased on the presence of at least two of the following findings: a history of neurologicalsymptoms, neurological signs, suggestive CT, clinical and radiological response to antitoxoplasmosismedication.Results: The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among 208 HIV/AIDS patients was (18.2%)(38 patients) while 4 (10.4%) and 34 (89.6%) subjects showed Toxoplasma seropositivitywith and without TE respectively. The majority of these patients were in the 25-34 agegroup, male, unemployed, single and residence in Shiraz, southern Iran.Conclusion: Toxoplasmosis is a silent disease, which poses many diagnostic and therapeuticchallenges. Based on findings of this study, we support a screening program ofToxoplasma infection. Primary chemoprophylaxis should be routinely given to all HIV infectedwith Toxoplasma seropositive status. Also HIV infected individuals with Toxoplasmaseronegative status may be advised about preventive behavioral practice.