The Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Chinese Population With Cancer

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is fatal in the immunocompromised individuals such as cancer patients with chemotherapy. Clinical toxoplasmosis in cancer patients is a great public health concern in China. We performed this meta-analysis to assess the seroprevalence and odds ratios (ORs) of Toxoplasma gondii in Chinese population with cancer compared with those without.A methodical literature search was conducted with the help of the PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Embase, Chinese Web of Knowledge, Wanfang, and Chongqing VIP database. Case-control studies published from their inception until April 2015, reporting the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Chinese population with cancer, were covered as well. The nonweighted prevalence, pooled random-effects estimates of ORs, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were all calculated.Nineteen studies including 4493 cases and 6797 controls were incorporated in the meta-analysis. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was higher in population with cancer compared with those without ((20.59% vs 6.31%, P < 0.001; OR 3.90, 95% CI 3.00–5.07). The OR of T. gondii in cancer patients is further subgrouped according to publication year, sample size, and diagnostic methods. The pooled OR estimates were 4.80 (95% CI 2.57–8.99) from 1991 to 1999, 4.96 (95% CI 3.03–8.12) during 2000 to 2005, and 2.94 (95% CI 2.46–3.50) during 2006 to 2015. The pooled OR estimates were 6.16 (95% CI 3.87–9.78) when the sample size was below 400, 5.37 (95% CI 3.84–7.53) when the sample size was between 400 and 500, and 2.58 (95% CI 2.17–3.07) when the sample size was above 500. The pooled OR estimates were 5.50 (95% CI 3.98–7.62) by using indirect hemagglutination assay method, and 3.15 (95% CI 2.67–3.72) by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.The meta-analysis study found Chinese population with cancer had higher seroprevalence rates of T. gondii compared with those without.

Rolling up the pieces of a puzzle: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in Iran

“…2,23,32 The prevalence is lower in USA, Mexico and China, being 10.8%, 20.26% and 6.31%, respectively, mostly due to the good hygienic measures, successful educational programs to alert people, precise diagnostic tests for women of childbearing age and pregnant women, industrialization of animal husbandry as well as well-established monitoring systems and improved rules in meat inspection. 11,34,35 In Ethiopia, toxoplasmosis prevalence rate of 75% has been observed which may be corroborated by the abundance of infected cats and food animals, low levels of hygiene and living in sub-standard conditions. 28 Pregnant women are substantial targets of T. gondii infection and the seroprevalence of infection among this population in Iran Table 1 Baseline characteristics of included studies.…”

“…Being one of the marvelous parasites, T. gondii still possesses a relatively high rate of prevalence in different mankind societies as well as various animal species. 1,3,8,11,21,[28][29][30][31][32] The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in human and animal populations in Iran premised on records obtained from literature review. We searched 7 databases among which 7 papers were included with 105,139 examined samples obtained from different hosts and weighted overall prevalence was 37% (95% CI = 31-43) ( Table 2).…”

“…Corresponding to our finding, in China, a remarkable difference was found in cancer patients, representing 20.59% infection seroprevalence compared to the 6.31% in immunocompetent population (P < 0.001; OR 3.90). 11 In contrast to infected immunocompetent individuals which are often asymptomatic, toxoplasmosis inflicts awful consequences in persons with disordered immune system particularly in AIDS patients, such as infection reactivation and recrudescence, fulminant disease, pneumonitis, myocarditis, encephalitis and even death. 5,11,12 Furthermore, Toxoplasma serologic diagnosis is faced with the obstacle of low immune function in immunosuppressed patients and choosing the best diagnostic method is open to question.…”

“…9 Pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals (cancer, transplant and AIDS patients) comprise the two important risk groups for toxoplasmosis. 3,5,10,11 Owing to the Toxoplasma predilection to the brain and eye, poor prognosis and complications such as glaucoma, chorioretinitis, retinal detachment, brain abscess and encephalitis can occur during acute or recrudescent infection. 12,13 Furthermore, serious complications such as brain focal lesions, hydrocephaly, microcephaly, deafness, and mental retardation may arise from congenital toxoplasmosis, according to the gestational age.…”

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in Risk Population Groups from Andes Peruvian

“…studies showed a seroprevalence of 20.59% for the cancer population, compared to 6.31% for the population without cancer [17]. Other groups of researchers reported that people with ocular neoplasia had higher rates of toxoplasmosis [18].…”