DETECTION OF TOXOPLASMA-GONDII IN AIDS PATIENTS BY THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

In recent years, toxoplasmosis has become one of the most frequent and life-threatening opportunistic infections in AIDS patients. Despite s trict clinical follow-up and repeated biological examinations, its dia gnosis remains difficult to establish in the context of immunodeficien cy because of the poor predictive value of serology. The aim of the st udy was to compare standard methods of diagnosis with the polymerase c hain reaction (PCR), in an attempt to investigate the potential useful ness of PCR in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Twelve biological sampl es (cerebrospinal fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, one brain biops y and one liver biopsy) from 11 unselected AIDS patients were tested b y PCR. The results showed good correlation (for eight out of 11 patien ts) between classical methods and PCR, and confirm the value of bronch oalveolar lavage for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients. The pathophysiological significance of the presence of Toxoplasma in s amples tested is discussed.