Serological Evaluation of Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Patients with Acute Leukemia and Lymphoma through Chemotherapy

Background: toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that belongs to the family coccidae. we aimed to evaluate igg avidity and the changes of anti-toxoplasma immunoglobulins m (igm) and g (igg) in patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma. methods: ninety eight patients with acute myeloid leukemia (aml), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (all) and lymphoma, selected from patients referring to imam reza hospital of tabriz (38°04′n 46°18′e), in terms of the presence of anti-toxoplasma igm, igg, igg avidity antibodies and the major risk factors were evaluated. results: the results of pre-chemotherapy evaluation showed that of the examined patients, only two cases, one patient with all and another patient with lymphoma, had a positive igm titer. overall, 46 cases had positive igg titers, including 20 patients with aml, 15 patients with all and 11 patients with lymphoma. three (3.06%) patients were positive for anti-t. gondii igm and one of them was with new infection of toxoplasmosis in lymphoma patients. the post-chemotherapy igg titer evaluation showed 46 [46.9% (95% ci 37.4–56.7)] positive igg cases that this result was similar to the result of pre-treatment phase. one [1% (95% ci 0.2–5.6)] positive igg avidity case was detected using elisa method, in a patient with lymphoma whose igm was also positive. there was no significant difference between the type of leukemia and the history of contact with cat. conclusion: performing specialized tests to diagnose toxoplasma infection before starting treatment, in immunodeficiency patients who undergo chemotherapy, is necessary; therefore, these tests should be considered in therapeutic protocols.