The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Cardiovascular Biomarkers

Babekir, Amani; Mostafa, Sayed; Obeng-Gyasi, Emmanuel

doi:10.3390/ijerph18094908

Cited by 12 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The exposure to environmental contaminants is rarely isolated. Most human beings are exposed to a complex mixture of many environmental [ 57 , 58 ] and social exposures [ 59 , 60 ], and the physiological manifestation of them determines the biological response both in the short and long term. The exposome embodies this concept and reflects the reality of how exposure occurs [ 61 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined Effect of Lead Exposure and Allostatic Load on Cardiovascular Disease Mortality—A Preliminary Study

Obeng-Gyasi

Ferguson

Stamatakis

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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This study explores the combined effect of lead (Pb) exposure and an index of chronic physiological stress on cardiovascular disease mortality using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2008 linked to 1999–2014 National Death Index data. Chronic physiological stress was measured using the allostatic load (AL) index, which was formed by analyzing markers from the cardiovascular, inflammatory, and metabolic systems, with Pb levels, assessed using blood lead levels (BLL). The dataset was analyzed with statistical techniques to explore (a) the relationship between Pb exposure and AL, and (b) the combined role of Pb and AL on cardiovascular disease mortality. Results indicated that AL was more elevated in those with BLLs above the 50th percentile in the US population and that those with elevated AL were more likely to have high BLL. Finally, the interaction of AL and BLL significantly increased the likelihood of cardiovascular disease mortality. These findings highlight the need for considering the totality of exposures experienced by populations to build holistic programs to prevent Pb exposure and reduce stressors to promote optimal health outcomes and reduce cardiovascular mortality risk.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined Effect of Lead Exposure and Allostatic Load on Cardiovascular Disease Mortality—A Preliminary Study

Obeng-Gyasi

Ferguson

Stamatakis

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Furthermore, the pathogenicity of toxoplasmosis is linked to an increase in oxidative stress and inflammation; thus, it is associated with various diseases such as heart diseases, obsessivecompulsive disorder, and schizophrenia [11][12][13]. Moreover, Babekir et al [14] indicated that T. gondii seropositivity is associated with elevated levels of biomarkers and clinical markers such as triglycerides (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and C-reactive protein (CRP).…”

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confidence: 99%

The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG Antibody and Chronic Kidney Disease Biomarkers

2022

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Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a parasite that infects more than 40 million Americans and causes toxoplasmosis. Most cases of toxoplasmosis are asymptomatic; however, T. gondii is capable of invading organs like the kidney, causing chronic infections and cell destruction. Methods: This study focused on evaluating the association between T. gondii exposure and chronic kidney disease (CKD) using data from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). T. gondii exposure was assessed using Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody status, and the status of CKD was assessed using the CKD biomarkers. The evaluation of risk rate and population prevalence was performed. In addition, multivariable regression models were used to further investigate this association after adjusting for sociodemographic, anthropometric, behavioral, and clinical covariates commonly associated with kidney dysfunction. Results: The positive T. gondii IgG antibody participants had significantly higher levels of CKD biomarkers, including second albumin-to-creatinine ratio (p = 0.0376), second albuminuria (p = 0.0005), and persistent albuminuria (p < 0.0001) compared to the negative participants. Furthermore, there were statistical associations between T. gondii exposure and the status of CKD (negative vs. positive) (p = 0.0001), and between T. gondii exposure and the CKD stage (negative, stage 1, …, stage 5) (p = 0.0004). Without adjusting for age, the positive T. gondii participants had a significantly higher risk (27% higher) of having CKD than the negative participants (RRcrude = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.09–1.49). The age-adjusted prevalence of CKD was higher among Toxoplasma-positive participants compared to the Toxoplasma-negative participants (10.45 vs. 8.99). T. gondii infection was significantly associated with CKD (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.06–1.84, p = 0.00447) after adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and BMI. Age was positively associated with CKD (OR = 8.89, 95% CI = 6.31–12.51, p < 0.0001) with the participants 45+ years old being 8.89 times more likely to have CKD than those who are <45 years old, after adjusting for T. gondii infection, gender, race/ethnicity, and BMI. Moreover, positive T. gondii increased the odds of CKD progression (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.07–1.86, p = 0.0424). Conclusions: Positive T. gondii IgG antibody is associated with CKD and the progression of CKD stages. This association is more apparent among older people. Further investigations are needed to examine these findings in different geographical locations and among differentially exposed populations.

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“…Furthermore, a positive association between Toxoplasma and AST ( p = 0.0211), ALT ( p = 0.0221), and GGT ( p = 0.0258) was revealed after adjusting for BMI, age, gender, and race. Prior studies linked T. gondii IgG+ and adverse levels of several clinical biomarkers related to heart and kidney function, including blood pressure, TG, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, albuminuria, and GGT [ 15 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additional variables considered in the analysis were gender, age, race/ethnicity, and occupation (longest job). The occupation variable had 22 levels (types of occupations) which we grouped into two groups: group 1 included the occupations which were found to be associated with Toxoplasma infection in previous studies [ 14 , 22 , 50 ] and group 2 included all other types of occupations. Specifically,…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The health complications of toxoplasmosis involve processes such as oxidative stress and inflammation [ 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In addition, T. gondii IgG antibody is associated with adverse levels of biomarkers indicative of disease, such as gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), C-reactive protein (CRP), triglycerides (TG), and markers of persistent albuminuria [ 15 , 22 ]. Toxoplasmosis is associated with several diseases, such as schizophrenia, cardiovascular diseases, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and chronic kidney disease [ 16 , 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Liver Injury in US Adults

Babekir

Mostafa

Minor

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a ubiquitous obligatory intracellular parasite which infects over 40 million Americans and causes toxoplasmosis. Inside the human body, T. gondii can damage tissues and invade vital organs. Methods: This study evaluated the association of T. gondii infection and liver disease using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2010, with a sample size of 3371 participants (age 20–80 years). Toxoplasma infection was determined by the level of T. gondii IgG antibody in serum samples. Liver disease was assessed by liver injury biomarkers and the Fatty Liver Index (US-FLI). The evaluation of the association between T. gondii infection and liver disease included the calculation of the Mantel–Haenszel risk ratio (RRMH), Rho-Scott chi-square bivariate analyses, design-based t-tests, and linear and logistic regression models which were adjusted for demographic and anthropometric covariates. Results: Mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly more elevated in the T. gondii IgG-positive (IgG+) participants as compared to T. gondii-negative (IgG−) participants, p = 0.0435 and 0.0310, respectively. In linear regression analysis, exposure to T. gondii IgG+ had statistically significant positive associations with AST (p = 0.0211), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p = 0.0221), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (p = 0.0258) after adjusting for BMI, age, gender, and race. T. gondii exposure was associated with an elevated relative risk of chronic liver disease (CLD) (RRMH = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.51). This association was more pronounced in certain occupations, such as construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing, where Toxoplasma infection is more common (p = 0.0477). Moreover, Toxoplasma infection increased the odds of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (OR = 6.99, 95% CI = 1.85–26.32, p = 0.0237). Conclusion: T. gondii IgG+ antibody was significantly associated with liver injury biomarkers (ALT, AST, GGT, and ALP) and an increased risk of CLD and NAFLD. Moreover, the association of Toxoplasma with CLD was more evident in specific occupations where the prevalence of Toxoplasma was high. The findings of this study provide insight into utilizing liver biomarkers and US-FLI to assess the health complications of Toxoplasma when imaging tests are not accessible.

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The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Cardiovascular Biomarkers

Cited by 12 publications

References 40 publications

Combined Effect of Lead Exposure and Allostatic Load on Cardiovascular Disease Mortality—A Preliminary Study

Combined Effect of Lead Exposure and Allostatic Load on Cardiovascular Disease Mortality—A Preliminary Study

The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG Antibody and Chronic Kidney Disease Biomarkers

The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Liver Injury in US Adults

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