Abstract

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is a major opportunistic infection among HIV-positive
individuals, particularly those who are immunocompromised. This study aimed to determine the
seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in newly diagnosed ART-naïve HIV-positive
patients and to assess its association with CD4 counts and selected demographic factors. A crosssectional
study was conducted among 400 adult HIV-positive patients attending a tertiary care
hospital. Serum samples were tested for Toxoplasma IgG using ELISA. The overall seroprevalence
was found to be 73%. No statistically significant association was observed between IgG positivity
and gender, age, education level, or place of residence. A significant correlation was detected
between seropositivity and high-risk occupations such as farming and labor work (p = 0.0005). An
inverse relationship was observed between IgG titers and CD4 counts (r = –0.0305), suggesting
higher levels of chronic infection among severely immunocompromised individuals. Given the
absence of routine screening and specific prophylaxis for toxoplasmosis under national guidelines,
the study emphasizes the importance of screening all HIV-positive patients at diagnosis to prevent
reactivation and development of toxoplasmic encephalitis.