Investigating the potential link between seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgG and both types of diabetes mellitus in Benha city, Egypt

Elkholy, Asmaa; Omar, Rabab; Elbadawy, Ayman; Elawady, Mona; Abou-Ouf, Eman

doi:10.21608/puj.2022.147655.1174

Investigating the potential link between seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgG and both types of diabetes mellitus in Benha city, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Departments of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt

² Departments of Medical Parasitology Internal Medicine Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt

³ Departments of Medical Parasitology Community Medicine,Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt

⁴ Departments of Medical Parasitology,Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Egypt

10.21608/puj.2022.147655.1174

Abstract

Background: In immunocompromised individuals, e.g. diabetics, toxoplasmosis is one of the significant
opportunistic illnesses. The sensitivity and susceptibility to infections increases in diabetic patients
causing severe health consequences unless diagnosed and treated early.
Objective: The study was performed to detect the possible association between toxoplasmosis and both
types of diabetes mellitus linked with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.
Patients and Methods: The study included 180 serum samples, 90 from diabetic patients and 90 healthy
controls. Diabetic cases were divided into 22 diagnosed as type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and 68 type 2 diabetes
(T2DM). Sera were tested for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies using ELISA technique, and HbA1c levels were
estimated in all diabetic patients.
Results: Toxoplasma IgG seropositivity was recorded in 67/90 (74.4%) of diabetic patients and 30/90
(33.3%) of the controls with statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Among the diabetic patients, IgG
seropositivity was recorded in 17/22 (77.3%) of T1DM cases, and 50/68 (73.5%) of T2DM cases. The
difference between the two diabetic groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). A positive correlation
was recorded between IgG seropositivity and HbA1c levels in both types of diabetes.
Conclusion: It is critical to identify and treat toxoplasmosis in diabetic patients in order to prevent
serious outcomes due to the high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in diabetic patients compared to healthy
individuals.

Keywords