Volume 11, Issue 1 (2025)
IEM 2025, 11(1): 51-61 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Hadi Haddad A, Khudair Khalaf A. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis and Interferon Gamma Levels in Autoimmune Thyroiditis Patients. IEM 2025; 11 (1) :51-61
URL: http://iem.modares.ac.ir/article-4-76325-en.html
URL: http://iem.modares.ac.ir/article-4-76325-en.html
1- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq
2- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq ,amal-kh@utq.efu.iq
2- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq ,
Abstract: (503 Views)
Background: In thyroiditis, the cellular immune response plays a crucial role in triggering the production of autoantibodies. Toxoplasma gondii elicits a strong innate and adaptive immune response within the host organism. This study aims to assess the seroepidemiological prevalence of toxoplasmosis and the levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AITD) in Iraq.
Methods: This case-control survey was conducted on 100 patients diagnosed with AITD and 70 healthy individuals (non-AITD) who attended general hospitals in Thi-Qar Province, Iraq, between July and November 2023. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Serum levels of IFN-γ were measured using ELISA kits, while the expression levels of IFN-γ were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Findings: Among the participants, 33 patients (33.00%) in the AITD group and 9 patients (12.85%) in the non-AITD group tested positive for T. gondii IgG antibodies (p < 0.001). Additionally, 2.00% of AITD patients and 1.40% of non-AITD patients were positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies. PCR analysis revealed the presence of T. gondii parasites in 2.00% of AITD patients and 1.4% of non-AITD patients. In AITD patients with T. gondii antibodies, both serum levels and gene expression of IFN-γ were significantly elevated compared to AITD patients without T. gondii antibodies (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Current findings suggest that individuals infected with T. gondii may experience direct effects on the thyroid gland due to elevated levels of IFN-γ. However, further analyses are necessary to validate these results.
Methods: This case-control survey was conducted on 100 patients diagnosed with AITD and 70 healthy individuals (non-AITD) who attended general hospitals in Thi-Qar Province, Iraq, between July and November 2023. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Serum levels of IFN-γ were measured using ELISA kits, while the expression levels of IFN-γ were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Findings: Among the participants, 33 patients (33.00%) in the AITD group and 9 patients (12.85%) in the non-AITD group tested positive for T. gondii IgG antibodies (p < 0.001). Additionally, 2.00% of AITD patients and 1.40% of non-AITD patients were positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies. PCR analysis revealed the presence of T. gondii parasites in 2.00% of AITD patients and 1.4% of non-AITD patients. In AITD patients with T. gondii antibodies, both serum levels and gene expression of IFN-γ were significantly elevated compared to AITD patients without T. gondii antibodies (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Current findings suggest that individuals infected with T. gondii may experience direct effects on the thyroid gland due to elevated levels of IFN-γ. However, further analyses are necessary to validate these results.
Article Type: Original Research |
Subject:
Parasitology
Received: 2024/07/29 | Accepted: 2024/09/16 | Published: 2025/02/22
Received: 2024/07/29 | Accepted: 2024/09/16 | Published: 2025/02/22
References
1. Dardé, M. L.; Ajzenberg, D.; Smith, J. Population structure and epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii". In Weiss, L. M.; Kim, K. (eds.). Toxoplasma Gondii: The Model Apicomplexan. Perspectives and Methods. Amsterdam, Boston, Heidelberg, London, New York: Elsevier.2011; . 49-80 [DOI:10.1016/B978-012369542-0/50005-2]
2. Havelaar AH, Kemmeren JM, Kortbeek LM . Disease burden of congenital toxoplasmosis. Clin Infect Dis.2007; 44: 1467-1474. [DOI:10.1086/517511] [PMID]
3. Cook TB, Brenner LA, Cloninger CR, Langenberg P, Igbide A, Giegling I, Hartmann AM, Konte B, Friedl M, Brundin L, Groer MW, Can A, Rujescu D, Postolache TT ""Latent" infection with Toxoplasma gondii: association with trait aggression.2015;
4. Tenter AM, Heckeroth AR, Weiss LM. Toxoplasma gondii: from animals to humans. International journal for parasitology. 2000 Nov 1;30(12-13):1217-58. [DOI:10.1016/S0020-7519(00)00124-7] [PMID]
5. Cappa M, Bizzarri C, Crea F. Autoimmune thyroid diseases in children. Journal of thyroid research. 2011;2011(1):675703. [DOI:10.4061/2011/675703] [PMID] []
6. Taylor PN, Albrecht D, Scholz A, Gutierrez-Buey G, Lazarus JH, Dayan CM, Okosieme OE. Global epidemiology of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 2018 May;14(5):301-16. [DOI:10.1038/nrendo.2018.18] [PMID]
7. Al-Khamesi MB. Effect of Toxoplasmosis on lipid profile and thyroid hormones in aborted women. Al-Nahrain Journal of Science. 2016;19(4):122-6. [DOI:10.22401/JNUS.19.4.16]
8. Alvarado-Esquivel C, Ramos-Nevarez A, Guido-Arreola CA, Cerrillo-Soto SM, Pérez-Álamos AR, Estrada-Martínez S, Gutierrez-Martinez VD, Sifuentes-Alvarez A, Ramírez-Valles EG, Contreras-Cisneros E. Association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and thyroid dysfunction: a case-control seroprevalence study. BMC Infect Dis. 2019 Sep 18;19(1):826. doi: 10.1186/s12879-019-4450-0. PMID: 31533667; PMCID: PMC6751844. [DOI:10.1186/s12879-019-4450-0] [PMID] []
9. Clark JT, Christian DA, Gullicksrud JA, Perry JA, Park J, Jacquet M, Tarrant JC, Radaelli E, Silver J, Hunter CA. IL-33 promotes innate lymphoid cell-dependent IFN-γ production required for innate immunity to Toxoplasma gondii. Elife. 2021 Apr 30;10:e65614. [DOI:10.7554/eLife.65614] [PMID] []
10. Tozzoli R, Barzilai O, Ram M, Villalta D, Bizzaro N, Sherer Y, Shoenfeld Y. Infections and autoimmune thyroid diseases: parallel detection of antibodies against pathogens with proteomic technology. Autoimmun Rev. 2008;8(2):112-115. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2008.07.013. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [DOI:10.1016/j.autrev.2008.07.013] [PMID]
11. Shapira Y, Agmon-Levin N, Selmi C, Petríková J, Barzilai O, Ram M, Bizzaro N, Valentini G, Matucci-Cerinic M, Anaya JM, Katz BS, Shoenfeld Y. Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in patients with autoimmune diseases. J Autoimmun. 2012;39(1-2):112-116. doi: 10.1016/j.jaut.2012.01.001. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [DOI:10.1016/j.jaut.2012.01.001] [PMID]
12. Wasserman EE, Nelson K, Rose NR, Rhode C, Pillion JP, Seaberg E, Talor MV, Burek L, Eaton W, Duggan A, Yolken RH. Infection and thyroid autoimmunity: a seroepidemiologic study of TPOaAb. Autoimmunity. 2009;42(5):439-446. doi: 10.1080/08916930902787716. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [DOI:10.1080/08916930902787716] [PMID]
13. Kaňková Š, Procházková L, Flegr J, Calda P, Springer D, Potluková E. Effects of latent toxoplasmosis on autoimmune thyroid diseases in pregnancy. PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e110878. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110878. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0110878] [PMID] []
14. STAHL W., KANEDA Y. Impaired thyroid function in murine toxoplasmosis. Parasitology. 1998;117(3):217-222. doi: 10.1017/S003118209800300X. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [DOI:10.1017/S003118209800300X] [PMID]
15. Dubey JP, Newell TK, Verma SK, Calero-Bernal R, Stevens EL. Toxoplasma gondii infection in llama (Llama glama): acute visceral disseminated lesions, diagnosis, and development of tissue cysts. J Parasitol. 2014;100(3):288-294. doi: 10.1645/13-427.1. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar] [DOI:10.1645/13-427.1] [PMID]
16. Basso W, Hartnack S, Pardini L, Maksimov P, Koudela B, Venturini MC, Schares G, Sidler X, Lewis FI, Deplazes P. Assessment of diagnostic accuracy of a commercial ELISA for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pigs compared with IFAT, TgSAG1-ELISA and Western blot, using a Bayesian latent class approach. International journal for parasitology. 2013 Jun 1;43(7):565-70. [DOI:10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.02.003] [PMID]
17. Moshfe A, Arefkhah N, Sarkari B, Kazemi S, Mardani A. Toxoplasma gondii in blood donors: a study in Boyer‐Ahmad County, Southwest Iran. Interdisciplinary perspectives on infectious diseases. 2018;2018(1):3813612. [DOI:10.1155/2018/3813612] [PMID] []
18. Bergallo M, Gambarino S, Loiacono E, Vergano L, Galliano I, Montanari P, Astegiano S, Tavormina P, Tovo PA. Evaluation of IFN-γ polymorphism+ 874 T/A in patients with recurrent tonsillitis by PCR real time mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA real time PCR). Cytokine. 2015 Feb 1;71(2):278-82. [DOI:10.1016/j.cyto.2014.11.012] [PMID]
19. Anandkumar, S., Chacko, J., and Usha, M. Thyroid Disorder: An Overview. Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics.2020; 12(1), 1-4. [DOI:10.5958/2321-5836.2020.00001.4]
20. Jenkins D, Penny MA, Fletcher JA, Jacobs KH, Mijovic CH, Franklyn JA0Sheppard MC. HLA class II gene polymorphism contributes little to Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Clin. Endocrinol (Oxf).1992; 37(2):141-5. [DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1992.tb02298.x] [PMID]
21. Tozzoli R, Barzilai O, Ram M, Villalta D, Bizzaro N, et al. (2008) Infections and autoimmune thyroid diseases: Parallel detection of antibodies against pathogens with proteomic technology. Autoimmun Rev 8: 112-115 [DOI:10.1016/j.autrev.2008.07.013] [PMID]
22. Sadoon, M. M. & Khalaf, A. K . Estimation the Level of Interferon Gamma for Diabetic Patients Infected with Toxoplasmosis in Thi-Qar Province/Southern Iraq. University of Thi-Qar Journal Of Medicine.2022; 24(2), 112-117.
23. Abdullah D. A. The level of cytokines IL-4, IL-12p40, IFNy during acute toxoplasmosis. Journal of the Faculty of Medicine Baghdad.2011; 53(4), 408-413 [DOI:10.32007/jfacmedbagdad.534805]
24. Rufash H. N., & Yousif J. J. effective of genotypes of Toxolplasma gondii Parasite on the level of some cytokine and marker in aborted women in Najaf governorate. Biochem. Cell. Arch.2018; 18 ( 1) 293-297.
25. Abdul-Lateef H. I., AL-Najar S. A., & Majeed N. G. A. The levels of IFN-, IL-12 and testosterone hormone in persons with asymptomatic toxoplasmosis. Journal of the Faculty of Medicine Baghdad.2012; 54(1), 79-82. [DOI:10.32007/jfacmedbagdad.541776]
26. Ali M. I., Abd El Wahab W. M., Hamdy D. A., & Hassan A. Toxoplasma gondii in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: seroprevalence and interferon gamma level. Journal of Parasitic Diseases.2019; 43, 464-471 [DOI:10.1007/s12639-019-01111-9] [PMID] []
27. Arranz-Solís D., Mukhopadhyay D., & Saeij J. J. Toxoplasma effectors that affect pregnancy outcome. Trends in parasitology.2021; 37(4), 283-295. [DOI:10.1016/j.pt.2020.10.013] [PMID] []
28. Abed. A. A & Khalaf, A. K . Serological detection of some parasitic, viral and bacterial infection associated with COVID-19 patients in Thi- Qar province,thesis collage medicin university of Thi -Qar.2022;110
29. Yan X., Sun Y., Zhang G. and et al. Study on the antagonistic effects of koumiss on Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice. Frontiers in Nutrition.2022; 2260. [DOI:10.3389/fnut.2022.1014344] [PMID] []
30. Kate. M. I. Serological Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis and its Relation with Some Immunological Markers for Aborted Women in Thi-Qar Province; Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology.2023; 30(2), 309-316 [DOI:10.47750/jptcp.2023.1111]
31. Azab Hameed, F., & Khalaf, A. K. The effect of infection with Toxoplasma gondii in inducing interferon-gamma in breast cancer patients. Archives of Razi Institute.2024 79(1):6-11.
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |