High seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with HIV attending clinic in a tertiary hospital in Ghana: a cross-sectional survey

Toxoplasma gondii infects over a billion people globally, posing severe risks for HIV patients due to immunosuppression. High seroprevalence of T. gondii infection has been reported in sub-Saharan Africa, however, data from Ghana’s Volta Region remain limited. This study assessed seropositivity of toxoplasmosis and risk factors among HIV patients at Ho Teaching Hospital. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 207 HIV patients attending the ART clinic at Ho Teaching Hospital, Volta Region, Ghana from February to April 2025 using consecutive sampling technique. Data were collected via a structured, validated questionnaire covering socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral risk factors diagnostic test (RDT). Data were analyzed with SPSS v25 using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors. Among 207 HIV patients (77.3% female, age range; 46–60 years), the overall prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection was 72.5%. IgG was detected in 64.3%, IgM in 0.5%, and both IgG and IgM in 7.7%. Seropositivity was highest (90.7%) among patients aged 60 years and above (> 60) [ p < 0.001], and rural residents (78.4%) [ p = 0.04]. Rural residence showed nearly two-fold increased odds (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.02–3.52; p = 0.04), but this lost significance after adjustment (aOR 1.64; 95% CI 0.85–3.16; p = 0.14). Conventional risk factors such as cat ownership and undercooked meat were not significant. Toxoplasma gondii infection was common among HIV patients in Ho, Ghana. These findings highlight the continued clinical and public health importance of toxoplasmosis in HIV care and support the integration of routine screening and targeted prophylaxis for high-risk patients to reduce morbidity.