Background: Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of the nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) for the laboratory diagnosis of active toxoplasmosis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Patients and method: The study was carried out in 157 HIV-infected patients. We determined IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii as well as parasite DNA by nested-PCR in blood samples.
Results: IgG antibodies were detected in 56 patients, IgM in 1 and IgA in 5 patients. Eleven patients were found to have DNA of the parasite.
Conclusions: The polymerase chain reaction is a rapid, sensitive and effective technique in the early diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients. Its positivity may also point to the beginning of treatment in asymptomatic individuals.