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Mustafa KM, Mohammed AB, Mero WMS. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies and Associated Risk Factors Among Women in Zakho City, Iraq. Cureus 2024; 16:e56328. [PMID: 38628991 PMCID: PMC11019471 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.56328] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, an infectious disease caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, poses varying degrees of risk, ranging from asymptomatic cases in immunocompetent individuals to severe, life-threatening conditions in immunocompromised individuals and developing fetuses, especially when infection occurs during early pregnancy. While the disease is endemic in Iraq, there is a notable lack of precise information regarding its seroprevalence among females of childbearing age and pregnant women, along with associated risk factors in the Zakho district. This cross-sectional study aimed to address this gap by determining the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using the ELISA assay. The study involved 610 females aged 18-79 years from various residential areas within Zakho district, Iraq. The findings revealed a seroprevalence of 32.46% for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and 8.86% for IgM antibodies. Significant variations in IgG antibody seroprevalence were observed across different age groups (P=0.008), with the highest prevalence noted among those aged 46-55 years (47.73%). Conversely, IgM antibody seroprevalence, while non-significant (P>0.05), displayed the highest rate of 10.05% among ages 18-25 years. The study identified residence as a variable significantly associated with toxoplasmosis. Additionally, contact with cats, marital status, a history of abortion, and the consumption of homemade food showed significant associations with anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies only. These findings strongly suggest that Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent causative agent of infection in Zakho city, Iraq. This study contributes valuable insights into the seroprevalence and associated risk factors, providing a foundation for targeted interventions and further research in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalthom M Mustafa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zakho, Zakho, IRQ
| | - Ahmed B Mohammed
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zakho, Zakho, IRQ
| | - Wijdan M S Mero
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zakho, Zakho, IRQ
- College of Science, Nawroz University, Duhok, IRQ
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Rabaan AA, Uzairue LI, Alfaraj AH, Halwani MA, Muzaheed, Alawfi A, Alshengeti A, Al Kaabi NA, Alawad E, Alhajri M, Alwarthan S, Alshukairi AN, Almuthree SA, Alsubki RA, Alshehri NN, Alissa M, Albayat H, Zaidan TI, Alagoul H, Fraij AA, Alestad JH. Seroprevalence, Risk Factors and Maternal-Fetal Outcomes of Toxoplasma gondii in Pregnant Women from WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Pathogens 2023; 12:1157. [PMID: 37764965 PMCID: PMC10537388 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12091157] [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: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii may cause serious illness in the immunocompromised. The Toxoplasma gondii seropositive prevalence in pregnant women in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region countries is inconsistent in the literature and it is associated with outcomes that have not be fully elucidated, hence the need for a better understanding of the pooled seroprevalence and associated maternal and fetal outcomes. OBJECTIVE The objective was to conduct a systematic literature review and determine the pooled prevalence of WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional countries' pregnant women's seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and the maternal-fetal outcomes. METHODS This quantitative study examined WHO Eastern Mediterranean countries' maternal-fetal outcomes and Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in pregnant women. The targeted population was pregnant women, while the primary outcome was seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii, while other outcomes such as maternal and fetal associations and risk factors were determined PubMed, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, and Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (IMEMR) databases were searched up until 30 January 2023. The search terms used were "Toxoplasma gondii" OR "Toxoplasma infection" AND "Pregnant woman" or pregnan* OR Antenatal OR Prenatal OR Gravidity OR Parturition OR Maternal AND WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region). OpenMeta-Analyst and Jamovi were used to analyze the generated data. RESULTS In total, 95 of 2947 articles meeting the inclusion criteria examined Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in pregnant women from WHO Eastern Mediterranean countries. The pooled prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women was 36.5% (95%CI: 32.6-40.4) with a median value of 35.64%, range values of 1.38-75.30%, with 99.61% heterogeneity. The pooled seroprevalence of IgG of Toxoplasma gondii was 33.5% (95%CI: 29.8-37.2) with a median value of 33.51%, and a range values of 1.38-69.92%; the pooled seroprevalence of IgM was 3.6% (95%CI: 3.1-4.1)) with a median value of 3.62 and range values of 0.20-17.47%, while cases of pooled seroprevalence of both IgG and IgM positivity was 3.0% (95%CI: 1.9-4.4) with a median value of 2.05 and a range values of 0.05-16.62%. Of the Toxoplasma gondii seropositive women, 1281/3389 (34.8%) 174/1765 (32.9%), 1311/3101 (43.7%), and 715/1683 (40.8%) of them had contact with cats, drank unprocessed milk, ate raw or undercooked meat and ate unwashed raw vegetables, respectively. The maternal-fetal outcomes associated with Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity were a history of abortions, miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine fetal death, and premature birth, which were found in 868/2990 (32.5%), 112/300 (36.1%), 111/375 (25.7%), 3/157 (1.9%) and 96/362 (20.1%) of women who tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. CONCLUSION The study found a high proportion of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, which may be linked to poor outcomes for mothers and their babies. Thus, pregnant women require monitoring and comprehensive prevention strategies for Toxoplasma gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali A. Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22610, Pakistan
| | - Leonard Ighodalo Uzairue
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti 371104, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Amal H. Alfaraj
- Pediatric Department, Abqaiq General Hospital, First Eastern Health Cluster, Abqaiq 33261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad A. Halwani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Baha University, Al Baha 47810, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muzaheed
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulsalam Alawfi
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amer Alshengeti
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control, National Guard Health Affairs, Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nawal A. Al Kaabi
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi 51900, United Arab Emirates
- College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates
| | - Eman Alawad
- Adult Infectious Diseases Department, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, Riyadh 11474, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashael Alhajri
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sara Alwarthan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abeer N. Alshukairi
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah 21499, Saudi Arabia
| | - Souad A. Almuthree
- Department of Infectious Disease, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah 43442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Roua A. Alsubki
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11362, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nada N. Alshehri
- Internal Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Khalid University Medical City, Abha 61481, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alissa
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hawra Albayat
- Infectious Disease Department, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh 7790, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tasneem I. Zaidan
- Pediatric Department, King Abdulaziz Hospital, Jeddah 23831, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hassan Alagoul
- Blood Bank Section, Dammam Regional Laboratory and Blood Bank, Dammam 31411, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Al Fraij
- Medical Laboratories & Blood Bank Department, Jubail Health Network, Eastern Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Jubail 35514, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jeehan H. Alestad
- Immunology and Infectious Microbiology Department, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK
- Microbiology Department, Collage of Medicine, Jabriya 46300, Kuwait
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Sadegi Hariri S, Heidari Z, Habibzadeh S, Shahbazzadegan S. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among Pregnant Women in Ardabil, Iran (2021-2022). Iran J Parasitol 2023; 18:93-99. [PMID: 37197079 PMCID: PMC10183437 DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v18i1.12385] [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] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can causes adverse outcomes. Regarding its importance in prenatal care, seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women was studied in Ardabil City, during 2021-2022. Methods In a cross-sectional study with a cluster sampling, 244 pregnant women that attended in health care centers of Ardabil City, Ardabil Province, Iran in 2021-2022 were selected. Serum samples were collected and Anti-Toxoplasma IgM (immunoglobulin M) and IgG (immunoglobulin G) was detected. Furthermore, a questionnaire filled for all participants during samples collection and risk factors assessed. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results Participant's age ranged from 16 to 43 years with average of 23± 5.24 years. IgG anti-T. gondii antibody was detected in 22.1% of pregnant women (54/244). In none of participants IgM anti-Toxoplasmosis antibody was detected. There was no significant relationship between demographic variables and risk factors of toxoplasmosis with serology test results. Conclusion Approximately, 77.9% of pregnant women had no antibody against the T. gondii infection. Therefore, health education, counseling of pregnant women and screening in high-risk pregnant women is recommended to prevent from fetal complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Sadegi Hariri
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Zahra Heidari
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Shahram Habibzadeh
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ardabil University of Medical Science, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Samira Shahbazzadegan
- Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
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Liu B, Yan Y, Wang X, Chen N, Wu J. Locally generated C3 regulates the clearance of Toxoplasma gondii by IFN-γ-primed macrophage through regulation of xenophagy. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:944006. [PMID: 35992649 PMCID: PMC9386420 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.944006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exogenous pathogen infection can induce autophagy in cells. Autophagy is essential for cell survival, development, and homeostasis. It not only regulates cell defense and stress, but also has a close relationship with innate and adaptive immunity. Complement is an important part of innate immunity, which could be activated by three approaches, including classic, alternative, and lectin pathways. All the three pathways result in the activation of C3, and generate anaphylatoxin fragments C3a and C5a, and formation of the membrane attack complex. Either C3a or C5a induces the inflammatory cytokines through binding to C3aR or C5aR, respectively. However, it is still unknown whether the complement could regulate the autophagy of intracellular microorganisms or not. In this study, we constructed a Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and macrophages co-culture experimental model using T. gondii expressing enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) fluorescence and C3−/-C57BL/6 J mice for that T. gondii invaded peritoneal macrophages in mice. Western blot, laser confocal microscopy (LCM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the changes of autophagy between the macrophages from wild-type (WT) and C3−/− mice. Flow cytometry and LCM were used to investigate the effect of autophagy on the killing ability of macrophages against T. gondii. Here, we found that local C3 could suppress not only the canonical autophagy of macrophage, but also the xenophagy to T. gondii. Interestingly, the inhibition of C3 on host cell autophagy could significantly suppress the clearance of T. gondii by the IFN-γ-primed macrophage. Finally, we investigated the mechanism of the autophagy regulation of C3 that the effect of C3 on the macrophage-specific autophagy against T. gondii depends on mTOR. And, there is C3a but not C5a/C5aR involved in regulating macrophage xenophagy against T. gondii. Collectively, our findings suggest locally generated C3 regulates the clearance of T. gondii by Macrophage through the regulation of the non-canonical IFN-γ-dependent autophagy pathway, and paint a clearer picture in the regulation of autophagy by innate immune components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Liu
- Department of Hematology. The No. 967 Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Medical Innovation Research Division, The Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoreng Wang
- Laboratory of Radiation Injury Treatment, Medical Innovation Research Division, The Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Nannan Chen
- Department of Hematology. The No. 967 Hospital of PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, Dalian, Liaoning, China
- Nannan Chen,
| | - Jue Wu
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Medical Innovation Research Division, The Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Jue Wu,
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