Are intestinal helminths playing a positive role in tuberculosis risk? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Co-infection of intestinal helminthic infections (IHIs) and tuberculosis (TB) has appeared as a public health issue, especially in developing countries. Some recent studies have been carried out on the possible relevance of IHIs to TB. The current systematic review and metaanalysis was conducted to assess the prevalence and odds ratio (OR) of IHIs among TB patients and clarify the relationship between IHIs and TB disease. Methods For the purpose of the study, five English databases including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), and Google scholar were searched (up to January 30, 2019) in order to find the related studies. Random-effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence, odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (CI). Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Results A total of 20 studies including 10 studies with case-control design (2217 patients and 2520 controls) and 10 studies with cross-sectional design (a total of 2415 participants) met the eligibility criteria. As shown by the random-effects model, the pooled prevalence of IHIs in TB patients was estimated to be 26% (95% CI, 17-35%; 1249/4632). The risk of IHI was higher in TB patients compared to controls but this was not statistically significant. However, according to genus/species, the pooled OR of Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.59-4.54) had a significantly higher risk in TB patients compared to controls.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the global prevalence of microsporidia infection among dogs: a zoonotic concern

“…As in our previous meta-analysis studies [19,77,78], the strengths of this study include the rigorous methodology, the comprehensive literature search in four international databases, the large total sample size, and analysis of several subgroups. Moreover, this study has some limitations and the results presented here should be interpreted with regard to these limitations.…”

Modeling the Effects of Helminth Infection on the Transmission Dynamics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis under Optimal Control Strategies

“…Theorem 2. The fixed point E 0 is a globally asymptotically stable equilibrium of system (4) given that R HT < 1 and that the conditions in ( 12) are fulfilled.…”

“…The study by Watts et al [3] suggests that infection by trichuriasis reduces the chance of latent tuberculosis (LTB) or blunts tuberculin skin tests (TST). Moreover, coinfection of helminth and Mtb has been a public health issue in developing countries [4]. The study by Dias et al [5] suggests that intestinal helminth infection has a harmful effect to contain the Mtb infection and contributes to the development of active TB for coinfected individuals.…”

CD4 T Cells in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Schistosoma mansoni Co-infected Individuals Maintain Functional TH1 Responses

“…This variation is particularly evident in a recent meta-analysis of epidemiological studies of individuals co-infected with Mtb and helminths. The report indicates that both the prevalence rate of co-infection as well as the measured associations between infections varies greatly between studies as well as between helminth species (26). The outcome of helminth co-infection on the immune response to Mtb is likely specific to both the helminth species, as well as the Mtb infection status of the individuals being studied.…”