A longitudinal study was performed with sera and urine of patients with
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), taken before, during and after
clinically Toxoplasma infection. The tested patients were followed for an
average of two years. The titres of the specific IgG and IgM antibodies
were measured by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), and the
appearance of circulating antigens of T. gondii was determined in 36 urine
samples of 13 patients with neurotoxoplasmosis by means of the
coagglutination test.
The presence of T. gondii antigens in the urine of AIDS patients by this
test was correlated with the immunoblot technique, with clinical symptoms
and also with pathological findings.
Our results indicate that the detection of T. gondii antigens in the urine
of AIDS patients can be regarded as a rapid and efficient method for the
diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis.
