OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in HIV infected individuals in Pune, India. DESIGN: A prospective, controlled study from Feb.-May. 1997. METHODS: Patients attending our HIV clinic over four months were recruited irrespective of their clinical status. Paired Sera were screened for toxoplasma antibodies using two Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Lymphocyte phenotyping were done by flow cytometry. HIV negative matched controls were recruited and toxoplasma serology determined. RESULTS: A total of 79 subjects and controls were recruited. Seroprevalence of toxoplasma in HIV infected subjects and controls is 63.6% and 64.3% respectively (p > 0.05). Age, sex, immunological and clinical status did not have a significant impact on seroprevalence, however higher toxoplasma titres were seen amongst HIV infected subjects. Higher titres were also noted amongst symptomatic HIV infected patients. CONCLUSION: This is the highest reported toxoplasma seroprevalence rates in India. Without adequate prophylaxis and progressive immunodeficiency a large amount of HIV infected individuals will develop clinical toxoplasmosis. Routine screening for toxoplasma serology amongst HIV infected individuals is recommended so that prophylaxis can be instituted when immunosuppresion sets in.

MEETING ABSTRACTS Antibodies, Protozoan/*BLOOD AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY Cross-Sectional Studies *Developing Countries Human Incidence India/EPIDEMIOLOGY Prospective Studies Toxoplasmosis/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/IMMUNOLOGY

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