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Toxoplasmosis and Symptoms Severity in Patients With Covid-19 in Referral Centers in Northern Iran Publisher



Geraili A1 ; Badirzadeh A1 ; Sadeghi M1 ; Mousavi SM2 ; Mousavi P3 ; Shahmoradi Z3, 4 ; Hosseini SM5 ; Hejazi SH2, 3 ; Rafieisefiddashti R1
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  3. 3. Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Parasitology and Mycolog, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Dermatology, Al-Zahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Source: Journal of Parasitic Diseases Published:2023


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. © 2022, Indian Society for Parasitology.
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