ABSTRACT

Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were investigated using IFA and ELISA techniques in 40 patients with the diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma and in a control group of 40 healthy persons. IgG seropositivity in the patient and control groups was found to be 67.5% and 60.0%, respectively, using IFA, and 60.0% and 62.5%, respectively, using ELISA (p>0,05 for all). The agreement of the methods was high (kappa=%89). Anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibody was not found in either of the groups. Twenty-seven individuals with IgG seropositivity in the patient group were under the risk of reactivation and 13 IgG seronegative individuals were under risk of acquiring severe primary toxoplasmosis. Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies should be screened in patients when leukemia or lymphoma is diagnosed, and direct detection methods should be applied especially in the patients who have signs indicating central nervous system involvement.

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Hematological malignancy, IFAT, ELISA