Fadel Eman Fathi, Tolba Mohammed Essa Marghany, Ahmed Amal Mostafa, El-Hady Hanaa Ahmed
Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt.
Department of Microbiology and Clinical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Khaled University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Sci Rep. 2025 Feb 12;15(1):5236. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-88680-3.
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) affects around 30% of humans worldwide. Recently, it has emerged as a significant opportunistic pathogen to immunocompromised patients. Data available is still lacking about toxoplasmosis in cancer patients in Egypt. This study aimed to reveal the current trend of T. gondii in cancer patients in Sohag, Egypt. Sera from 50 cancer patients and 50 healthy controls were screened for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM. Further, buffy coats from both groups were used for detection of T. gondii B1 and RE genes via conventional and nested PCR, respectively. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG was high (58%). IgG and IgM were detected in 30% and 9% cancer patients, respectively. Patients with solid cancers exhibited a greater IgG seropositivity compared to those with hematologic tumors (77.27% and 46.43%, respectively) (P = 0.03). Concerning the molecular results, only 4 (9%) were positive regarding both PCR assays. In conclusion, T. gondii is highly prevalent in cancer patients in Sohag, Egypt. PCR is strongly recommended to complement serology to diagnose acute or reactivated toxoplasmosis in cancer patients. B1 PCR was found to be equivalent to RE PCR. Nevertheless, thorough large-scale research must be implemented.
弓形虫在全球约30%的人类中存在感染情况。最近，它已成为免疫功能低下患者的一种重要机会性病原体。关于埃及癌症患者弓形虫病的数据仍然匮乏。本研究旨在揭示埃及索哈杰癌症患者中弓形虫的当前流行趋势。对50例癌症患者和50例健康对照的血清进行弓形虫IgG和IgM筛查。此外, 分别通过常规PCR和巢式PCR，利用两组的血沉棕黄层检测弓形虫B1和RE基因。弓形虫IgG的总体血清阳性率较高（58%）。分别在30%和9%的癌症患者中检测到IgG和IgM。实体癌患者的IgG血清阳性率高于血液系统肿瘤患者（分别为77.27%和46.43%）（P = 0.03）。关于分子检测结果，两种PCR检测均仅4例（9%）呈阳性。总之，弓形虫在埃及索哈杰的癌症患者中高度流行。强烈建议采用PCR补充血清学检测，以诊断癌症患者的急性或再活化弓形虫病。发现B1 PCR与RE PCR等效。尽管如此，仍需开展全面的大规模研究。
