An AIDS patient complains of headaches and disorientation. A clinical diagnosis of Toxoplasma encephalitis is made, and Toxoplasma cysts are observed in a brain section. Which of the following antibody results would be most likely in this patient?
High-Yield Explanation
One of the leading causes of death among AIDS patients is CNS toxoplasmosis. It is thought that Toxo-plasma infection is a result of reactivation of old or preexisting toxoplasmosis. Occasionally, the infection may be acquired by needle sharing. Because the disease is a reactivation of old or preexisting toxoplasmosis, routine quantitative tests for IgM antibody are usually negative, and IgG titers are low (<1:256, IFA). More sophisticated methods, such as IgM capture or IgG avidity, may reveal an acute response.