Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in Immunocompromised Patients in Iran (2013-2022): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis



Teimouri A¹ ; Goudarzi F² ; Goudarzi K¹ ; Alimi R³ ; Sahebi K⁴ ; Foroozand H⁴ ; Keshavarz H^{2, 5} Show Affiliations
Source: Iranian Journal of Parasitology Published:2022

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii infection (toxoplasmosis) has the potential to cause a serious disease in immunocompromised patients and can be fatal in this population. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess comprehensively the pooled seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among immunocompromised patients including HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients, and transplant recipients in Iran. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar databases (international) and Scientific Information Database (SID), Magiran, IranMedex, and IranDoc databases (national) were systematically searched for all reports that possibly contained data for T. gondii prevalence in different immunocompromised populations in Iran between 2013 and 2022. Results: Overall, IgG seroprevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in Iranian immunocom-promised patients was 45.1% (95% confidence interval (CI), 37.4–52.9). IgG seropreva-lence rate of toxoplasmosis in 12 studies that included 2279 cancer patients, 19 studies that included 2565 HIV/AIDS patients and in 3 studies that included 200 transplant recipients was 43.6% (95% CI, 30.2–57.0), 45.9% (95% CI, 34.8–57.1) and 45.8% (95% CI, 32.5–59.0), respectively. Moreover, IgM seroprevalence rate in the 26 studies was 2.6% (95% CI, 1.4–3.7). Conclusion: Our findings represent a high seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma IgG among immunocompromised patients. Health improvement and education toward prevention of toxoplasmosis is of great importance for these susceptible populations. © 2022 Teimouri et al. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.