Toxoplasma gondii: IgG E IgM EM PACIENTES ONCOLÓGICOS NA REGIÃO SUL DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL, BRASIL

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, which causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. The objective of this study was to verify IgG and IgM antibody positivity for T. gondii in patients with malignancies who underwent chemotherapy treatment at the Federal University Hospital of Pelotas, and the Center for Radiotherapy and Oncology at the Santa Casa de Misericordia in Pelotas. Serological tests for detection of antibodies in 77 samples were performed using the electro-chemiluminescence technique. It was found that the rate of seropositive antibodies for IgG was 90.9% and 7.8% for IgM. In accordance with the risk factors, on analysing the seropositives for anti-T. gondii IgG the significant difference (p<0.05) was only found in the age variable. The results indicate the need for serologic management of patients undergoing chemotherapy to prevent serious and even fatal consequences.