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Abdeltawab MSA, Fateen M, Saad El-Din S, Elmessiery RM, Mohammady Mohamed O, Marzouk Sadek K, Medhat E, Hamed AMR. Effect of SARS-CoV-2 and Toxoplasma gondii co-infection on IFN-γ and TNF-α expression and its impact on disease severity. Cytokine 2024; 177:156545. [PMID: 38368695 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2024.156545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The symptomatology of COVID-19 is dependent on the immune status and the cytokine response of the host. The cytokine level of the host is influenced by the presence of chronic persistent or latent infections with co-pathogens. Parasitic diseases are known to induce host immune-modulation which may impact the response to co-infection. Toxoplasmosis is a widespread protozoal infection that remains quiescent in its latent form to be re-activated during states of immune depression. Clinical data on the relation between toxoplasmosis and COVID-19 cytokine profile and symptomatology are still insufficient. Seventy-nine subjects were included in this study. Patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 by PCR. Serological testing for toxoplasmosis was performed by the detection of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies, in addition to IgG avidity testing. IFN-γ and TNF-α levels were determined by RT-PCR. Among patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 67.1% were seronegative for anti-Toxoplasma IgG, while 32.9% were seropositive. High avidity was found in 10 cases (40% of seropositive cases), 4 of whom required ICU administration, while low avidity was found in 15 cases (60%), 7 of which were administered to the ICU. TNF-α and INF-γ levels were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in healthy control subjects. No significant association was found between the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and the presence of COVID-19 and its severity. Cytokines were significantly higher in both seropositive and seronegative COVID-19 patients than in their control counterparts. The high prevalence of toxoplasmosis merits further exploration of its relation to COVID-19 by mass studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohamed Fateen
- Clinical and Chemical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Shimaa Saad El-Din
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Riem M Elmessiery
- Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | | | | | - Engy Medhat
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
| | - Alshaimaa M R Hamed
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt
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Hamdy DA, Eid RA, Abdel-Tawab H, El-Badry MA, Abdallah AM, El Wahab WMA. Impact of latent toxoplasmosis on pneumonic and non-pneumonic COVID-19 patients with estimation of relevant oxidative stress biomarkers. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2024; 71:2024.008. [PMID: 38628099 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2024.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Susceptibility to COVID-19, the most devastating global pandemic, appears to vary widely across different population groups. Exposure to toxoplasmosis has been proposed as a theory to explain the diversity of these populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible association between latent toxoplasmosis and COVID-19 and its probable correlation with markers of oxidative stress, C-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin. In a case-control study, blood samples were collected from 91 confirmed (48 non-pneumonic; NP, and 43 pneumonic; P) COVID-19 patients and 45 healthy controls. All participants were tested for IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and oxidative stress markers (nitric oxide [NO], superoxide dismutase [SOD] and reduced glutathione [GSH]), and CRP and serum ferritin levels were determined. In COVID-19 patients, IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 54% compared to 7% in the control group, with the difference being statistically significant (P ˂ 0.001). However, no significant correlation was found between the severity of COVID-19 and latent T. gondii infection. Latent toxoplasmosis had a strong influence on the risk of COVID-19. NO and SOD levels were significantly increased in COVID-19 patients, while GSH levels decreased significantly in them compared to control subjects (P ˂ 0.001 for both values). CRP and ferritin levels were also significantly elevated in P COVID-19 patients infected with toxoplasmosis. This is the first study to look at the importance of oxidative stress indicators in co-infection between COVID-19 and T. gondii. The high prevalence of latent toxoplasmosis in COVID-19 suggests that T. gondii infection can be considered a strong indicator of the high risk of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doaa A Hamdy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, College of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Ragaey A Eid
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and infectious diseases (Tropical Medicine Department), College of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef,Egypt
| | - Heba Abdel-Tawab
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Mohamed A El-Badry
- Research Institute of Medical Entomology, General Organisation for Teaching Hospitals and Institutes (GOTHI), Giza, Egypt
| | - Abdelrahman M Abdallah
- Department of Chest Diseases, College of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Wegdan M Abd El Wahab
- Department of Medical Parasitology, College of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
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Hasanzadeh M, Ahmadpour E, Mahami-Oskouei M, Musavi S, Parsaei M, Sarafraz N, Spotin A. Genetic diversity and seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in COVID‑19 patients; a first case-control study in Iran. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:42. [PMID: 38172676 PMCID: PMC10763165 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08964-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is a serious or life-threatening disease in immunosuppressed patients and pregnant women. This study examined the likely association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and COVID-19 patients with moderate illness. METHODS Seventy blood samples were collected from patients at the Health Reference Laboratory of Tabriz, Northwest Iran from April 2021 to September 2021. In addition, 70 healthy subjects of the same age (37 ± 15 years) and sex distribution were ethnically matched. Sera samples were examined for the detection of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies using ELISA. Nested-PCR targets were amplified based on the B1 and GRA6 genes. GRA6 amplicons were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis based on IgG titer was 35.7% in the COVID‑19 patients and 27.1% in the control group, representing not to be associated with the Toxoplasma seropositivity in COVID‑19 patients (P = 0.18) compared to healthy subjects. Anti-T. gondii IgM was not found in any of the patients and healthy individuals. According to PCR amplification of the B1 and GRA6 genes, the frequency of T. gondii in COVID-19 patients was 14.2% (10/70). However, no T. gondii infection was detected in the healthy group. The CD4+T cell count was relatively lower in toxoplasmosis-infected patients (430-450 cells/mm3) than in control group (500-1500 cells/mm3). High genetic diversity (Hd: 0.710) of the type I strain of T. gondii was characterized in the patients. Present results showed that consumption of raw vegetables and close contact with stray cats can increase the transmission of T. gondii to COVID-19 patients (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The current study revealed that T. gondii type I infection is unequivocally circulating among the COVID-19 patients in Tabriz; However, no significant association was observed between the occurrence of Toxoplasma and the severity of COVID-19. To make more accurate health decisions, multicenter investigations with a larger sample size of different ethnic groups of the Iranian population are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Hasanzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ehsan Ahmadpour
- Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Mahami-Oskouei
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saeed Musavi
- Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of medical science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahdi Parsaei
- Vice chancellor for health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nazila Sarafraz
- Vice chancellor for health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Adel Spotin
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Gouda MA, AboShabaan HS, Abdelgawad AS, Abdel Wahed AS, A Abd El-Razik K, Elsaadawy Y, Abdel-Wahab AA, Hawash Y. Association between breakthrough infection with COVID-19 and Toxoplasma gondii: a cross-sectional study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17636. [PMID: 37848511 PMCID: PMC10582182 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44616-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The breakthrough infection following COVID-19 vaccination has been a subject of concern recently. Evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccine efficacy diminishes over time due to multiple factors related to the host, and vaccine. Coinfection with other pathogens was claimed earlier as a contributing cause for this phenomenon. Hence, we aimed to stratify the association of post-COVID-19 vaccination breakthrough coinfection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and its impact on disease severity. This cross-sectional study included 330 COVID-19-vaccinated patients confirmed by RT-PCR. They were also screened for anti- T. gondii antibodies using ELISA. Toxoplasma seropositive cases' whole blood was screened for DNA using PCR to correlate results with COVID-19 severity. Out of 330 COVID-19 vaccinated patients with breakthrough infection, 34.5% (114 patients) showed positivity for Toxoplasma IgG by ELISA, and none of the cases was IgM positive. Eleven patients (9.6%) of the IgG-positive cases were positive by PCR. Positive PCR cases correlated positively with the Toxoplasma IgG titer (P < 0.001), and the Cutoff point was 191.5. Molecular analysis of Toxoplasma and COVID-19 severity showed that 8 (72.7%), 1 (9.1%), and 2 cases (18.2%) had mild, moderate, and severe courses of the disease, respectively, with no significant correlation. Our study reported a heightened prevalence of latent toxoplasmosis among mild cases of COVID-19 breakthrough infection. Nevertheless, a discernible correlation between latent toxoplasmosis and COVID-19 severity is lacking. Hence, implementing studies on a larger scale could provide a more comprehensive comprehension of this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa A Gouda
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shibin El Kom, Menoufia, Egypt.
| | - Hind S AboShabaan
- Department of Clinical Pathology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shibin El Kom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Abdelgawad
- Department of Clinical Pathology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shibin El Kom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Aliaa Sabry Abdel Wahed
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shibin El Kom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Khaled A Abd El-Razik
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Yara Elsaadawy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ayman A Abdel-Wahab
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shibin El Kom, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Yousry Hawash
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Parasitology, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University, Shibin El Kom, Menoufia, Egypt
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Habib S, Hamza E, El-Gamal R, Nosser NA, Aboukamar WA, Abdelsalam S, Sobh A, Elegezy M, Elbayoumy M, Eldars W, Elmasry K, Elnagdy MH. Clinical and Immunological Impacts of Latent Toxoplasmosis on COVID-19 Patients. Cureus 2023; 15:e45989. [PMID: 37900421 PMCID: PMC10601516 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Parasites are well-known immune-modulators. They inhibit some aspects of the immune system to ensure persistence inside the host for a long time; meanwhile, they stimulate other immune aspects to assure the survival of the host. Wide variations in the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among developed and developing countries were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parasitic infections, including Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), were claimed to contribute to such variations. Methods To explore a possible relationship between latent toxoplasmosis and COVID-19 severity, our study included 44 blood samples from moderate/severe COVID-19 patients, who were admitted to Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt, during the pandemic. Patients' sera were screened for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies using ELISA (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, USA), and the gene expression of important immune markers (iNOS, arginase-1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and TGF-β) was checked using real-time quantitative PCR. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from the patients' medical records. Results Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were detected in 33 (75%) of patients. None of the studied clinical or laboratory parameters showed any significant changes in relation to toxoplasmosis seroprevalence. Further classification of the patients according to COVID-19 severity and Toxoplasma seroprevalence did not reveal any changes related to toxoplasmosis as well. Conclusion Our study indicates that latent toxoplasmosis has no effect on the severity of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar Habib
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
| | - Eman Hamza
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Horus University, New Damietta, EGY
| | - Randa El-Gamal
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Horus University, New Damietta, EGY
- Medical Experimental Research Center (MERC), Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
| | - Nessma A Nosser
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
| | - Wafaa A Aboukamar
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
| | - Sherehan Abdelsalam
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
| | - Ali Sobh
- Department of Pediatrics, Mansoura University Children's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
| | - Mohamed Elegezy
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
| | - Mohamed Elbayoumy
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, SAU
| | - Waleed Eldars
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, New Mansoura University, New Mansoura, EGY
| | - Khaled Elmasry
- Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, USA
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
| | - Marwa H Elnagdy
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EGY
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, New Mansoura University, New Mansoura, EGY
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Chen J, Wang X, Li J, Sun L, Chen X, Chu Z, Zhang Z, Wu H, Zhao X, Li H, Zhang X. Influenza A Virus Weakens the Immune Response of Mice to Toxoplasma gondii, Thereby Aggravating T. gondii Infection. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050354. [PMID: 37235437 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the T. gondii type II strain (Pru) and respiratory viral infections, specifically focusing on the co-infection with PR8 (influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34). In this study, we found that the number of T. gondii (Pru) in the lungs of co-infected mice was significantly higher and lesions were more severe than those in the group infected with T. gondii (Pru) alone, whereas IAV (influenza A virus) copy numbers of co-infected and PR8 alone infected groups were negligible, suggesting that infection with IAV increased the pathogenicity of T. gondii (Pru) in mice. The invasion and proliferation assays demonstrated no significant effect of co-infection on T. gondii (Pru) infection or replication in vitro. To further explore the factors causing the altered pathogenicity of T. gondii (Pru) caused by co-infection, we found that decreased expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12 in the co-infected group were associated with the early immune responses against T. gondii (Pru), which affected the division of T. gondii (Pru). Moreover, the significant decrease in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio indicated a weakened long-term immune killing ability of the host against T. gondii (Pru) following IAV infection. In conclusion, a T. gondii type II strain (Pru) could not be properly cleared by the host immune system after IAV infection, resulting in toxoplasmosis and even death in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junpeng Chen
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Jinxuan Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Lingyu Sun
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Ziyu Chu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Zhenzhao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Hongxia Wu
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Hongmei Li
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271002, China
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Geraili A, Badirzadeh A, Sadeghi M, Mousavi SM, Mousavi P, Shahmoradi Z, Hosseini SM, Hejazi SH, Rafiei-Sefiddashti R. Toxoplasmosis and symptoms severity in patients with COVID-19 in referral centers in Northern Iran. J Parasit Dis 2022; 47:185-191. [PMID: 36532601 PMCID: PMC9741704 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-022-01556-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis has been categorized as one of the long-lasting protozoan parasitic infections. It affects almost one-third of the world's population. In recent years, several documented studies have elucidated that infected individuals have a remarkably higher incidence of distinct health problems and show various adverse effects. In the PCR-positive COVID-19 patients in Gonbad-e-Kavus, Kalaleh, and Minoodasht counties in the northern part of Iran from June 2021 to December 2021, we sought to investigate any potential relationships between the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and acute and latent toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). Whole blood samples of 161 COVID-19 patients with positive PCR. The samples were centrifuged to separate serum and screened for two important antibodies against T. gondii (IgM and IgG) by using ELISA kits for human anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG. Anti-T. gondii IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 8/161 (5.0%) and 42/161 (26.1%) COVID-19 patients, respectively. No significant relationships were found between Toxoplasma IgM and IgG results with clinical signs, age, sex, contact with animals, comorbidities, and also the mortality rate of people with COVID-19. These findings showed that acute and latent toxoplasmosis infections are common among patients with COVID-19; however, no significant associations were found between toxoplasma infections and the symptoms of COVID-19. Therefore, toxoplasmosis is not considered a risk factor for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Geraili
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Badirzadeh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Sadeghi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mahmoud Mousavi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Parisa Mousavi
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Parasitology and Mycolog, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Zabihollah Shahmoradi
- Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Parasitology and Mycolog, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Department of Dermatology, Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sayed-Mohsen Hosseini
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seyed Hossein Hejazi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Parasitology and Mycolog, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Raheleh Rafiei-Sefiddashti
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Akoolo L, Rocha SC, Parveen N. Protozoan co-infections and parasite influence on the efficacy of vaccines against bacterial and viral pathogens. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1020029. [PMID: 36504775 PMCID: PMC9732444 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1020029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A wide range of protozoan pathogens either transmitted by vectors (Plasmodium, Babesia, Leishmania and Trypanosoma), by contaminated food or water (Entamoeba and Giardia), or by sexual contact (Trichomonas) invade various organs in the body and cause prominent human diseases, such as malaria, babesiosis, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, diarrhea, and trichomoniasis. Humans are frequently exposed to multiple pathogens simultaneously, or sequentially in the high-incidence regions to result in co-infections. Consequently, synergistic or antagonistic pathogenic effects could occur between microbes that also influences overall host responses and severity of diseases. The co-infecting organisms can also follow independent trajectory. In either case, co-infections change host and pathogen metabolic microenvironments, compromise the host immune status, and affect microbial pathogenicity to influence tissue colonization. Immunomodulation by protozoa often adversely affects cellular and humoral immune responses against co-infecting bacterial pathogens and promotes bacterial persistence, and result in more severe disease symptoms. Although co-infections by protozoa and viruses also occur in humans, extensive studies are not yet conducted probably because of limited animal model systems available that can be used for both groups of pathogens. Immunosuppressive effects of protozoan infections can also attenuate vaccines efficacy, weaken immunological memory development, and thus attenuate protection against co-infecting pathogens. Due to increasing occurrence of parasitic infections, roles of acute to chronic protozoan infection on immunological changes need extensive investigations to improve understanding of the mechanistic details of specific immune responses alteration. In fact, this phenomenon should be seriously considered as one cause of breakthrough infections after vaccination against both bacterial and viral pathogens, and for the emergence of drug-resistant bacterial strains. Such studies would facilitate development and implementation of effective vaccination and treatment regimens to prevent or significantly reduce breakthrough infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavoisier Akoolo
- Biorepository and Tissue Research Facility, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Sandra C. Rocha
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
| | - Nikhat Parveen
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States,*Correspondence: Nikhat Parveen,
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