Toxoplasmosis in a group of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient patients

Objectives: This was a retrospective study that aimed at evaluating the rel ative risk of Toxoplasma infection in patients with glucose-6-phosphate deh ydrogenase deficiency as compared to a control group with no glucose-phosph ate dehydrogenase deficiency. Methods: Ninety-one blood donor volunteers had serology testing from Toxopl asma gondii and wen screened for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficien cy by a qualitative method using fluorescent spot test. They were all males and their ages ranged from 17 to 52 years. Results: Fifty-three persons (58%) were glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase d eficient and 38 (42%) were glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase normal. In the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient group, 31 (58.5%) had positive titers for Toxoplasma: while in the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase norm al group 9 persons (24%) had positive titers for Toxoplasma. The relative r isk of infection was 2.5 times more in the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenas e deficient group, a statistically significant difference with a p value of 0.002. Conclusion: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency seems to increase the risk for Toxoplasma infection by 2.5 fold probably due to decreased kil ling effect, of phagocytic cells.