The Probable Association between Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

Purpose. The probable association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and diabetes mellitus (DM) is still controversial, and there are several studies with conflicting results. Thus, this study was performed to assess the possible association between chronic T. gondii infection and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and T2DM. Methods. In this case-control study, a total of 105 diabetic subjects including 36 patients with T1DM and 69 patients with T2DM were recruited. In addition, 150 nondiabetic subjects were enrolled as controls. Each case group had its own control group. Each participant completed a structured questionnaire obtaining demographic information. Serum samples were examined for T. gondii-specific IgG antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results. Analysis revealed that 69.4% and 34.0% of patients with T1DM and control subjects were serologically positive for T. gondii, respectively (odds ratio (OR): 4.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.75–11.06; P = 0.001 ). Moreover, 72.5% of T2DM patients and 29.0% of healthy individuals were seropositive for T. gondii (OR: 6.44; 95% CI: 3.25–12.74; P < 0.001 ). Among risk factors, only contact with cats was significantly associated with IgG seroprevalence in both T2DM patients ( P < 0.001 ) and control subjects ( P = 0.045 ). Conclusion. Although the results showed that chronic T. gondii infection is significantly associated with T1DM and T2DM, there remain many questions regarding the exact mechanisms of T. gondii in the pathogenesis of DM.

The Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Associated Risk Factors Among Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Abadan, Southwest Iran

“…According to the results, there was only a statistically significant difference between contact with cats and IgG seroprevalence. This study confirmed some previous reports highlighting the importance of cats in acquiring T. gondii infection (6,7,11). In conclusion, the present study revealed a relatively high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among T1DM patients in Abadan, southwest Iran.…”

“…The results of the present study demonstrated that 28 subjects (68.29%) were seropositive. In accordance with our results, Soltani et al reported that the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in T1DM patients was 69.4% in Khorramshahr, southwest Iran (6). In addition, Nassief Beshay et al reported 86.37% seropositivity rate of anti-T. gondii IgG among T1DM patients (10).…”

“…In this cross-section study, we included 41 patients with T1DM referred to Taleghani hospital in Abadan from December 2019 to March 2020. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants, and a questionnaire including demographic information was filled out, as earlier described (6,7). To evaluate IgG antibody against T. gondii infection, 5 mL of blood sample was collected from each subject.…”

Comorbidities involving parasitic diseases: A look at the benefits and complications

“…In addition, the main risk factor for T. gondii IgG seroprevalence in patients with T2DM and without DM was contact with cats. 63 Another recent study conducted by Al-Khafajii et al 64 assessed toxoplasmosis positivity in relation to BMI in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, including obesity, overweight, normal weight, diabetes, non-diabetes, obesity-diabetes, obesity-non-diabetes, overweight-diabetes, overweight-non-diabetes, and normal weight-non-diabetes, and found that the rate of T. gondii seropositivity showed no significant difference among the study groups. Indeed, it is necessary to expand and develop experimental and human studies on T. gondii infection under the conditions of DM and obesity to identify other variables that can induce favorable or harmful events.…”

“…In addition, the main risk factor for T. gondii IgG seroprevalence in patients with T2DM and without DM was contact with cats. 63…”