CCR5 Delta 32 deletion and reduced risk of toxoplasmosis in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

This study attempted to determine whether the CCR5 Delta 32 deletion affect ed progression to certain first AIDS-defining illnesses in human immunodefi ciency virus type 1-infected patients enrolled in the French SEROCO/HEMOCO/ SEROGEST cohorts. Toxoplasmosis onset as a first AIDS-defining illness was significantly delayed in 253 heterozygous patients, compared with 1404 wild type patients. The relative risk of toxoplasmosis associated with heterozy gosity was 0.39 (95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.96) after adjustment for a ge, CD4 cell count, and primary specific prophylaxis. A nonsignificant prot ective trend was observed with regard to the onset of mycobacterial, cytome galovirus, and herpesvirus diseases, but these events were less frequent th an toxoplasmosis. Progression to other conditions (e.g., wasting, non-Hodgk in's lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma) was similar in the 2 groups as was the fre quency of toxoplasmosis as a subsequent AIDS-defining illness. As chemokine s are involved in numerous infectious processes, the Delta 32 deletion coul d delay progression to certain opportunistic infections such as toxoplasmos is.