Serum IgE levels in toxoplasmosis.

Elevated levels of serum IgE are found in many helminthic parasitic diseases. The authors have previously demonstrated that giardiasis, amoebiasis and Chagas' disease were not associated with hyperimmunoglobulinaemia E. To determine the influence of toxoplasma gondii on IgE levels of clinically symptomatic patients, a controlled study was performed. There was no difference found between the serum IgE values from Brazilian patients with toxoplasmosis and those from matched healthy Brazilian controls. This again confirms that protozoan parasitic infections do not increase serum IgE levels.