Seroprevalence ofToxoplasma gondiiInfection in Patients of Intensive Care Unit in China: A Hospital Based Study

The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence ofinfection in 394 patients of intensive care unit (ICU) in a hospital between April 2010 and March 2012 and analyze the association betweeninfection and ICU patients according to the species of disease.serology was evaluated by ELISA method using a commercially available kit. Data of patients were obtained from the patients, informants, and medical examination records. Seventy-four (18.78%) of 394 patients were positive for anti-IgG antibodies demonstrating latent infectionOf these, the highestseroprevalence was found in the age group of 31–45 years (27.45%), and the lowest was found in the age group of <30 years (12.5%). In addition, females (21.6%) had a higher seroprevalence than males (18.36%). With respect to the species of disease, the patients with kidney diseases (57.14%), lung diseases (27.84%), and brain diseases (24%) had highseroprevalence. The present study represents the first survey ofseroprevalence in ICU patients in China, revealing an 18.78% seropositivity. Considering the particularities of ICU patients, molecular identification, genetic characterization, and diagnosis ofshould be considered in future study.

Duke Scholars

Author Ying Xian Neurology, Neurocritical Care