Ga. Filice et al., DIAGNOSIS OF TOXOPLASMA PARASITEMIA IN PATIENTS WITH AIDS BY GENE DETECTION AFTER AMPLIFICATION WITH POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION, Journal of clinical microbiology, 31(9), 1993, pp. 2327-2331
We sought evidence of toxoplasma parasitemia among 37 people with acti
ve or dormant Toxoplasma gondii infection or no evidence of infection.
DNA was extracted from erythrocyte-free portions of blood samples, an
d the T. gondii BI gene was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction
. Evidence of T. gondii parasitemia was found in six patients with sev
ere immunosuppression from AIDS and clinical evidence suggestive of or
compatible with toxoplasmosis. Results were negative for patients unl
ikely to have active toxoplasmosis. Gene detection after amplification
with the polymerase chain reaction is a promising test for detection
of parasitemia, and parasitemia should be tested for in patients with
AIDS and unexplained fever or central nervous system abnormalities.