Seroepidemiological study on coinfection of toxoplasmosis and active tuberculosis in Northern Iran: a case control study.

Coinfection of tuberculosis (TB) and human parasitic infections is common in developing countries. There is little information about the prevalence of ( infection among TB patients in Iran. In this case-control study, anti-toxoplasma antibodies were measured by ELISA method in 100 patients with active tuberculosis and 100 healthy individuals who were matched in terms of sex, age, and place of residence. Anti- IgG antibodies were diagnosed in 62% of TB patients (95% CI 53-71%) and 70% of control subjects (95% CI 62-78%). Anti- IgM antibodies were found in 1% of both TB patients and control group. The seroprevalence of infection was not significantly different between TB patients and healthy individuals ( > 0.05). None of the assessed sociodemographic and behavioral factors was recognized as a risk factor for toxoplasmosis in TB infected patients. Moreover, the level of anti- IgG antibodies concentration in TB patients was significantly higher than in control subjects and revealed skewness towards humoral immune response in TB patients. Coinfection of toxoplasmosis and tuberculosis was prevalent but infection was independent of active TB in this co-endemic area.