Anti-Toxoplasma Gondii IgG Seroprevalence in the General Population in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis, 2000-2023

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2024 Aug 29

PMID 39208344

Authors

Faezeh Hamidi

Ali Rostami

Seyed Abdollah Hosseini

Rafael Calero-Bernal

Jafar Hajavi

Reza Ahmadi

Hossein Pazoki

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis ranks among the most prevalent parasitic diseases globally. It seems that chronic toxoplasmosis is associated with several neuropsychiatric and other harmful effects in infected people, therefore, there is a need to investigate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis across various world regions. In this study, we conducted a meticulous meta-analysis to estimate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies within the general population in Iran (GPI). International and national scientific databases for studies published between January 1, 2000, and September 30, 2023, were searched. Observational studies reporting anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence in the GPI was selected/included. The data were synthesized using a random-effects model to calculate with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) the national and regional anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence rates in Iran. Additionally, subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the frequency of exposition to T. gondii in different socio-demographic, climatic, and geographical scenarios. From 18661 identified studies, 327 were included in the present meta-analysis, encompassing 122,882 individuals across the 31 Iranian provinces. The pooled nationwide anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence among the GPI was determined to be 32.9% (95% CI: 30.9-35.1%). The highest anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence was observed in Mazandaran province (North of Iran) (61%), whereas the lowest was in Semnan province (12.5%).Anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence demonstrated a higher occurrence in provinces characterized by moderate temperatures of 16-21°C, high relative humidity, and annual precipitation. Additionally, a higher anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence was identified among individuals with a habit of consumption of undercooked meat, raw fruits or vegetables, and untreated water. Moreover, those reporting direct contact with cats, possessing a lower level of education, residing in rural areas, being engaged in farming occupations, or playing the role of housewives exhibited higher anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence figures.The anti-T. gondii IgG seroprevalence within GPI closely aligns with the estimated worldwide average exposition rates. This underscores the imperative for public health policymakers to prioritize educational efforts regarding toxoplasmosis transmission pathways and its link to harmful effects.

References

Mohamed K . Toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2020; 14(8):800-811. DOI: 10.3855/jidc.12648. View

Ducrocq J, Simon A, Lemire M, De Serres G, Levesque B . Exposure to Through Consumption of Raw or Undercooked Meat: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2020; 21(1):40-49. DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2020.2639. View

Alvarado-Esquivel C, Alanis-Quinones O, Arreola-Valenzuela M, Rodriguez-Briones A, Piedra-Nevarez L, Duran-Morales E . Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in psychiatric inpatients in a northern Mexican city. BMC Infect Dis. 2006; 6:178. PMC: 1764421. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-6-178. View

Munoz-Zanzi C, Campbell C, Berg S . Seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in rural and urban communities from Los Rios Region, Chile. Infect Ecol Epidemiol. 2016; 6:30597. PMC: 4788768. DOI: 10.3402/iee.v6.30597. View

Belluco S, Simonato G, Mancin M, Pietrobelli M, Ricci A . Toxoplasma gondii infection and food consumption: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-controlled studies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017; 58(18):3085-3096. DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2017.1352563. View

Ahmed M, Sood A, Gupta J . Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2020; 255:44-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2020.10.003. View

Safarpour H, Cevik M, Zarean M, Barac A, Hatam-Nahavandi K, Rahimi M . Global status of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors in people living with HIV. AIDS. 2019; 34(3):469-474. DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000002424. View

Tanislav C, Kostev K . Investigation of the prevalence of non-COVID-19 infectious diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health. 2022; 203:53-57. PMC: 8664655. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2021.12.006. View

Rahmati-Balaghaleh M, Hosseini Farash B, Zarean M, Hatami-Pourdehno S, Mirahmadi H, Jarahi L . Diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis by IgG avidity method in pregnant women referred to health centers in south-eastern Iran. J Parasit Dis. 2019; 43(3):517-521. PMC: 6667513. DOI: 10.1007/s12639-019-01120-8. View

10.

Jones J, Wilson M, McQuillan G, Navin T, McAuley J . Toxoplasma gondii infection in the United States: seroprevalence and risk factors. Am J Epidemiol. 2001; 154(4):357-65. DOI: 10.1093/aje/154.4.357. View

11.

Jankowiak L, Rozsa L, Tryjanowski P, Moller A . A negative covariation between toxoplasmosis and CoVID-19 with alternative interpretations. Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1):12512. PMC: 7385593. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69351-x. View

12.

Alipour A, Shojaee S, Mohebali M, Tehranidoost M, Abdi Masoleh F, Keshavarz H . Toxoplasma infection in schizophrenia patients: a comparative study with control group. Iran J Parasitol. 2012; 6(2):31-7. PMC: 3279881. View

13.

DerSimonian R, Laird N . Meta-analysis in clinical trials. Control Clin Trials. 1986; 7(3):177-88. DOI: 10.1016/0197-2456(86)90046-2. View

14.

Pazoki H, Ziaee M, Anvari D, Rezaei F, Ahmadpour E, Haghparast-Kenari B . Toxoplasma gondii infection as a potential risk for chronic liver diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Microb Pathog. 2020; 149:104578. DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104578. View

15.

Nasirpour S, Kheirandish F, Fallahi S . Depression and Toxoplasma gondii infection: assess the possible relationship through a seromolecular case-control study. Arch Microbiol. 2020; 202(10):2689-2695. DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01993-x. View

16.

Stelzer S, Basso W, Benavides Silvan J, Ortega-Mora L, Maksimov P, Gethmann J . infection and toxoplasmosis in farm animals: Risk factors and economic impact. Food Waterborne Parasitol. 2020; 15:e00037. PMC: 7033994. DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00037. View

17.

Afonso E, Germain E, Poulle M, Ruette S, Devillard S, Say L . Environmental determinants of spatial and temporal variations in the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in its definitive hosts. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2014; 2:278-85. PMC: 3862504. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.09.006. View

18.

Khatir A, Moghaddam S, Almukhtar M, Ghorbani H, Babazadeh A, Mehravar S . Toxoplasma infection and risk of epilepsy: A case-control study of incident patients. Microb Pathog. 2021; 161(Pt B):105302. DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.105302. View

19.

Mazzillo F, Shapiro K, Silver M . A new pathogen transmission mechanism in the ocean: the case of sea otter exposure to the land-parasite Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS One. 2014; 8(12):e82477. PMC: 3867372. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082477. View

20.

Soltani S, Foroutan M, Afshari H, Hezarian M, Kahvaz M . Seroepidemiological evaluation of immunity among the general population in southwest of Iran. J Parasit Dis. 2018; 42(4):636-642. PMC: 6261153. DOI: 10.1007/s12639-018-1047-2. View