Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii and the Association Between the Chronic Infection and Hemogram Parameters in Iraqi Female University Students
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Abstract
Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a disease affecting approximately one-third of the world's population. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and assess the impact of chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection on the hematological profiles of female university students in Diyala Province, Iraq. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 243 participants for serological analysis and complete blood count (CBC) testing. The presence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Out of the 243 female students, 44 (18.1%) were seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, while 199 (81.9%) were seronegative. An odds ratio (OR) of 1.85 was observed, indicating that female students studying health sciences were 1.85 times more likely to be seropositive than those studying Islamic studies. Lymphocyte and neutrophil counts significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in seropositive students compared to seronegative individuals. Monocyte, eosinophil, and platelet counts showed significant increases (P < 0.05) in seropositive individuals. The levels of red cell distribution width (RDW), platelet distribution width-coefficient of variation (PDW-CV), mean platelet volume (MPV), and procalcitonin were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the seropositive group. Additionally, the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were significantly associated with toxoplasmosis seropositivity, however, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was not. Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate that chronic T. gondii infection significantly alters various hematological parameters in female university students. However, further research is needed to confirm the clinical utility of these simple and cost-effective hematological markers in diagnosing toxoplasmosis.
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