TY - JOUR ID - 65364 TI - Toxoplasmosis an Overlooked Disease: Seroprevalence in Cancer Patients JO - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention JA - APJCP LA - en SN - 1513-7368 AU - Abdel-Malek, Raafat AU - Wassef, Rita AU - Rizk, Enas AU - Sabry, Hoda AU - Tadros, Nevine AU - Boghdady, Abdallah AD - Clinical Oncology Department, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. AD - Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Egypt. AD - Department of Medical Parasitology, Kasr Al-Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. AD - Department of Medical Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Egypt. Y1 - 2018 PY - 2018 VL - 19 IS - 7 SP - 1987 EP - 1991 KW - cancer KW - Chemotherapy KW - Prevalence KW - Radiation KW - Toxoplasma gondii DO - 10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.7.1987 N2 - Background: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most important cosmopolitan life-threatening diseases in immunecompromisedpatients. It is caused by an intracellular protozoon: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The parasite can causepneumonia, encephalitis or disseminated disease in immune-deficient patients and dangerous congenital anomaliesin infants born to mothers infected during early pregnancies. The present study aims to evaluate the prevalence oftoxoplasmosis in Egyptian cancer patients and to correlate the prevalence with type of malignancy and the differentcancer treatment modalities. Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 150 cancer patients and 50 control subjectshave been examined for presence of anti-toxoplasma antibodies using a lateral flow chromatographic immunoassay.Results: Among cancer patients included in this study, the prevalence of anti- T.gondii antibodies was 20% for IgGand 4% for IgM, while in the control group it was 8% and 2% in the same order. This difference was statisticallysignificant for IgG (P =0.003) but not for IgM (P = 0.44). Patients with solid organ tumors treated with chemotherapyhad the highest prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis (28%). It was also found higher in males (26%) than females (10%)and higher among urban (18%) than rural dwellers (16%). Conclusion: Cancer patients showed a significantly higherrate of infection with T. gondii than their cross-matched control. For that reason, we recommend the inclusion of ascreening test for toxoplasmosis in their routine workup. UR - https://journal.waocp.org/article_65364.html L1 - https://journal.waocp.org/article_65364_17091e779d409855fa486ca2b0f41018.pdf ER -