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Prevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in Covid-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Publisher Pubmed



Fakhar M1, 7 ; Najafi Ghobadi K2 ; Barati N3, 8 ; Zafari S4, 5 ; Hosseini SA6, 9 ; Soleymani E10 ; Motavallihaghi S6
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis (INRCL) and Toxoplasmosis (INRCT), Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
  3. 3. Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Student's Scientific Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
  7. 7. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
  8. 8. Medicinal Plants and Natural Products Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
  9. 9. Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
  10. 10. Department of Parasitology, Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

Source: Microbial Pathogenesis Published:2024


Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that affects over one billion people worldwide. COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has resulted in over 4.8 million deaths worldwide. Both diseases activate the innate immune response via the same pathway. Studies have suggested that toxoplasmosis may either protect against or worsen the severity of COVID-19. This meta-analysis investigated the relationship between toxoplasmosis prevalence and COVID-19. The selection of studies was based on a systematic search using specific keywords in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases between 2019 and 2023. The study findings were analyzed using STATA software version 17.0, and the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in people with COVID-19 and its confidence interval were extracted from the selected studies. The study's heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test, and publication bias was evaluated using a funnel plot and Egger's test. A p value of 0.05 was considered significant. The meta-analysis included nine studies with a total of 1745 COVID-19-positive individuals, and the results showed a significant association between toxoplasmosis and COVID-19 severity. The I2 statistic was almost 99 %, indicating large heterogeneity among the studies. The Egger's test showed no publication bias. The pooled prevalence of toxoplasmosis in COVID-19-positive individuals was 0.48 (95 % CI: 0.30–0.66), which was significantly different from that of 0 % (P < 0.001). The meta-analysis found that the prevalence oftoxoplasmosis was significantly higher in individuals with COVID-19 than in the general population, indicating a possible association between the two infections. However, the significant heterogeneity among the studies underscores the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications of this association. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd
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