Seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Toxocariasis is an important health problem caused by the parasitic species Toxocara canis (T. canis) and Toxocara cati (T. cati). Prevalence of toxocariasis in pregnant women as a vulnerable population is doubly important, and the aim of this study is to estimate the overall prevalence of toxocariasis infection in pregnant women according to the available reports. Methods: The present study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklists. A systematic search was carried out in international scientific databases (Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and PubMed) between 1990 and 2023. The overall prevalence of parasitic infection was estimated with a random-effects model. All analyses (overall prevalence, heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analysis) were performed with comprehensive meta-analysis (V2.2, Bio stat) software. Results: Amid the final eleven included studies, based on the random-effects model, the estimation of the pooled prevalence of Toxocara spp. was 20.8% (95% CI, 9.8-38.7%). The association between the risk factors of toxocariasis and the prevalence of the disease was not statistically significant. Conclusions: In the present study, significant prevalence was reported; however, considering the limited number of studies, it seems that the actual prevalence of the disease is higher. Therefore, it seems necessary to monitor this health problem in pregnant women.

The global epidemiology of Microsporidia infection in birds: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study aimed to assess the global status and genetic diversity of Microsporidia infection in different birds. An online search was conducted in international databases from 1 January 1990 to 30 June 2022. A total of 34 articles (including 37 datasets) were included for the final meta-analysis. The pooled global prevalence of Microsporidia infection in birds was 14.6% (95% CI: 11.6-18.1). The highest prevalence of Microsporidia was found in wild waterfowl which was 54.5% (28.1-78.6). In terms of detection methods, the pooled prevalence was estimated to be 21.2% (95% CI: 12.1-34.4) and 13.4% (95% CI: 10.3-17.3) for using microscopic and molecular detection methods, respectively. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was the most common pathogen (24/31; 77.42% of the studies) according to PCR-based methods, and genotype D was the highest reported genotype (nine studies). In conclusion, designing strategies for the control and prevention of Microsporidia infection in birds should be recommended.

Global prevalence and genotype distribution of Microsporidia spp. in various consumables: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Water and food sources play a major role in the distribution and transfer of microsporidia infection to animals and humans. So, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the status and genetic diversity of microsporidia infection in water, vegetables, fruits, milk, cheese, and meat. The standard protocol of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines was followed. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from 1 January 2000 and 1 February 2023. The point estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Of the 1,308 retrieved studies, 35 articles were included in the final meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of microsporidia infection in mixed water, mixed fruits, mixed vegetables, and milk was 43.3% (95% CI, 33-54.2%; I2, 94.86%), 35.8% (95% CI, 5.3-84.8%; I2, 0), 12% (95% CI, 4.9-26.6%; I2, 96.43%), and 5.8% (95% CI, 2.7-12%; I2, 83.72%), respectively. Considering the genotypes, microsporidia with genotype D in water sources and genotype CD6 in vegetables/fruits were the highest reported genotypes. Given the relatively high prevalence of microsporidiosis (especially in water sources), designing strategies for control, and prevention of microsporidia infection in these sources should be recommended.

Association of parvovirus B19 and myocarditis/dilated cardiomyopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The potential association between Parvovirus B19 and heart disease has been controversial. The aim of the present study was to report the prevalence of B19 in myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) as well as measure the statistical association between them. METHODS: Our systematic search was carried out to retrieve published articles between January 2000 and March 2021 using three major databases: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, as well as the Google Scholar search engine. The overall prevalence of HAV, pooled odds ratio, and heterogeneity were estimated by comprehensive meta-analysis (V2.2, Biostat) software. RESULTS: The overall prevalence results in myocarditis and DCM were 23.7% (95% CI: 18.7%-29.5%) and 34.1% (95% CI: 23.8%-46.1%) respectively; in addition, the overall OR for B19 and myocarditis was 4.317 (95% CI, 1.831-10.180) versus 1.163 (95% CI: 0.706-1.916) for B19 and DCM. CONCLUSION: Our findings have shown a significant association between Parvovirus B19 and myocarditis with a high prevalence. In the case of DCM, no significant association was found while the prevalence of the virus was relatively high.

The neglected role of Blastocystis sp. and Giardia lamblia in development of irritable bowel syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The possible role of Blastocystis sp. and Giardia lamblia infections in the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has long been controversial. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate whether these protozoan infections are associated with IBS development. We systematically searched international databases for all studies that reported these protozoa in IBS patients published by May 10, 2021. Studies were included in the review if they were observational studies with confirmed patients with IBS (in case-control and cross-sectional studies) or parasitic infections (cohort studies) with an appropriate control group. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using a random-effects meta-analysis model for included studies. A total of 32 papers (42 datasets), including 29 papers (31 datasets) for Blastocystis sp./IBS and 11 papers (11 datasets) for G. lamblia/IBS met the eligibility criteria. Our results indicated that the individuals with Blastocystis sp. infection were significantly at a higher risk of IBS development (OR, 1.78; 95%CI, 1.29-2.44). Moreover, cohort studies indicated a significant positive association between G. lamblia infection and IBS risk (OR, 5.47; 95%CI, 4.23-7.08); while an increasing but no statistically significant risk was observed in case-control studies (OR, 1.19; 95%CI, 0.75-1.87). Our findings suggested that Blastocystis sp. and G. lamblia infections are associated with the increased risk of developing IBS. Despite these results, further studies are needed to determine the effect of these protozoa on IBS development.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the co-infection of Helicobacter pylori with intestinal parasites: public health issue or neglected correlation?

The current study was conducted to assess the prevalence and odds ratio (OR) of co-infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and intestinal parasites (IPs). English databases were searched. A total of 18 studies including 14 studies with cross-sectional design (a total of 3739 participants) and 4 studies with case-control design (397 patients and 320 controls) met the eligibility criteria. The pooled prevalence of H. pylori, intestinal parasite infections (IPIs), and their co-infections in different populations were 48.3% (95% CI, 34.1-62.8%), 15.4% (95% CI, 10-22.8%), and 11% (95% CI, 6.7-17.6%), respectively. The co-infection of H. pylori and Giardia was 7.6% (95% CI, 4.9-11.7%). Although statistically not significant, the risk of co-infection of H. pylori and IPIs was higher in case group compared to control group (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.77-3.25). The overlaps between H. pylori and IPIs in countries with lower human development index (HDI) and income levels were high.

Two rivals or colleagues in the liver? Hepatit B virus and Schistosoma mansoni co-infections: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Globally, hepatitis B and schistosomiasis (Mansoni) together affect about 300 million people; which cause hepatic disorders worldwide. Given that little is known about co-infections with hepatitis B and schistosoma mansoni, the present study investigates these two health problems alone and together and their possible correlation. METHODS: A search was conducted for reports published between January 1990 and October 2020 by using Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science databases; Out of a total of 20 studies, 14 cross-sectional studies (6329 people) and 6 case-control studies (2138 individual) were reviewed. The pooled prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), S.mansoni infections, and their co-infections; heterogeneity and the Odds Ratio (OR) were evaluated by Stata 11.2. FINDINGS: Among the included studies in the inclusion criteria, the pooled prevalence of hepatitis B, S. mansoni was 34% (95% CI, 0.23-0.46), 41% (95% CI, 0.24-0.59) and their co-infections was 18% (95% CI, 0.11-0.25) by regions. The hepatitis B and S. mansoni correlation was significant in populations with schistosoma compared to control group (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.36-3.30). COMMENTARY: Our results showed that in addition to the high global prevalence of hepatitis B- S. mansoni (co) infections in the included studies, there is a significant association between them, especially in people suffering from schistosoma. These results highlight the importance of integrated interventions measurements against coexistence of parasitic and viral diseases. We know that more research studies need to be done in this field and global monitoring should be considered for the co-infection of these two important complications.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the global status of Trichomonas vaginalis virus in Trichomonas vaginalis.

BACKGROUND: The small (4.5-5kbp), double-stranded Trichomonas vaginalis virus (TVV) that inhabits in the T. vaginalis parasite has been potentially associated to parasite virulence or its drug resistance. The aim of present study was to estimate the global and regional status of TVV in T. vaginalis. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted for published articles between January 1990 and December 2020 by using five major databases include PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science as well as Google scholar search engine. The random-effect model was applied for pooled prevalence of TVV, geographical distribution, and heterogeneity by comprehensive meta-analysis (V2.2, Bio stat) software. FINDINGS: A total of 28 studies were included for final meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of TVV was estimated at 47% (95% CI, 39.3-54.8%). With respect to WHO regions, the lowest and highest prevalence rates were reported from South-East Asia 23% (95% CI, 12-41%) and African 66% (95% CI, 25-92%), respectively. Considering the countries, the prevalence was highest in the Brazil 90% (95% CI, 73-97%) and lowest in the South Korea 14% (95% CI, 4-35%). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of the parasitic virus emphasizes the need to pay attention to the behavior of the parasite, both in terms of clinical symptoms and drug resistance. Moreover, it is suggested that more studies (i.e. in vitro, in vivo, and case-control studies) should be conducted for deep understanding of this coexistence.

The role of IL-12 in stimulating NK cells against Toxoplasma gondii infection: a mini-review.

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can remarkably infect, survive, and replicate in almost all mammalian cells and can cause severe neurological and ocular damage in immunocompromised individuals. It is known that Natural Killer cells (NK cells), as a type of cytotoxic lymphocyte, have critical protective roles in innate immunity during the T. gondii infection through releasing interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Interleukin 12 (IL-12) is a pivotal critical cytokine for the generation of IFN-γ-producing NK cells. Several studies have shown cytokines' impact on NK cell activation; and IL-2 has an important role with a potent stimulatory factor for NK cells. In this review, we summarized the mechanism of interleukin-12 production stimulation by T. gondii tachyzoites and discussed several factors affecting this mechanism.

Filarial worms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diversity in animals from Iran with emphasis on human cases.

Current systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate the prevalence reports of filariasis in animals in Iran along with human cases. Studies were screened, relevant papers were selected and the random-effect model was used by forest plot with 95% confidence interval (CI). Of 17 records of human case-reports, particularly from Khuzestan province (5 cases), Dirofilaria repens was the most detected parasite (10 cases) with higher involvement of the right eye (7 cases) than other organs. Eleven animal species were reported to be parasitised by filarioids in Iran. The prevalence of Dirofilaria immitis in canids was 14.69% (95% CI: 10.33-19.67), with highest rates (20.92%; 95% CI: 13.84-29.03) in free-ranging dogs. Male (10.07%; 95% CI: 5.10-16.47) and more than 1-year old (20.77%; 95% CI: 8.66-36.42) dogs were more likely to be found infected. The frequency of other filarioids of zoonotic interest was: Acanthocheilonema reconditum in dogs 2.15% (95% CI: 0.71-4.33), Dipetalonema evansi in camels 10.16% (95% CI: 4.73-17.34), Onchocerca cervicalis in horses 3.63% (95% CI: 1.44-6.75%) and Onchocerca fasciata 16.57% (95% CI: 10.12-24.24%) in camels. Still, our knowledge on parasitic filariae in Iran is limited and more investigation is needed in both human and animal populations.

Global Seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the global and regional seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. and associated risk factors among children. METHODS: The present systematic review and meta-analysis was followed based on the Preferred Reporting. Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol. We searched the online databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) and Google Scholar search engine for studies that measured seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. among children, published between 1 January 2000 and 15 January 2022. Accordingly, the pooled seroprevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using a random-effects meta-analysis model. RESULTS: A total of 65 articles from 22 countries met the inclusion criteria. The global seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. infection among children was estimated as 25% (95% CI 22-29). Meta-regression analysis showed that the type of population studied (p = 0.002) and year of publication (p = 0.044) it may be the source of heterogeneity. The highest and lowest pooled seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. infection were estimated in Thailand and Colombia as 58.2% (95% CI 50.9-65.5) and 7.04% (95% CI 3.05-11.3), respectively. Male gender was associated with a higher risk of Toxocara spp. compared to females, and this association was statistically significant (OR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.09-1.41, p = 0.001). However, residing in rural areas did not show a statistically significant increase in risk compared to living in urban areas (OR = 1.39; 95% CI 0.88-2.21, p = 0.143). CONCLUSION: Toxocariasis is common among children, hence, prevention and control scheme of this helminth in children should be considered by health officials and health policymakers, especially in developing countries, where seroprevalence is highest.

Prevalence of Cryptosporidium and microsporidial infection in HIV-infected individuals.

BACKGROUND: Microsporidia and Cryptosporidium are obligate intracellular protozoa. These medically important species are recognized as opportunistic organisms in intestinal complications in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. METHODS: The current cross-sectional study was designed and conducted from August 2016 to August 2017 to determine intestinal Cryptosporidium and microsporidia spp. in HIV-infected individuals from the Behavioral Diseases Counseling Center, Tabriz, Iran, by modified acid-fast and modified trichrome staining and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR. RESULTS: Of 100 HIV-infected persons, 21.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.0 to 30.0) and 18.0% (95% CI 11.0 to 26.0) were identified as Cryptosporidium and microsporidia, respectively, by the microscopic method. Of these 100 HIV-infected persons, 18.0% (95% CI 11.0 to 26.0) and 14.0% (95% CI 7.0 to 22.0) were positive for Cryptosporidium and microsporidia, respectively, by the molecular method. The predominant species of microsporidia in patients was Enterocytozoon bieneusi (85.7% [95% CI 57.0 to 98.0]) and Encephalitozoon cuniculi (14.3% [95% CI 1.7 to 42.0]), which were found by quantitative real-time PCR and its high-resolution melting tool. CONCLUSIONS: As far as we know, this study is the first to estimate the prevalence of infection with Cryptosporidium and microsporidia among HIV-infected persons in northwest of Iran. The prevalence of intestinal microsporidiosis and cryptosporidiosis in this area in HIV-infected people was higher than the global prevalence of infection among immunocompromised patients. In addition to the need for further studies to prove protozoan pathogenicity in the aforementioned group, preventive measures should be considered.

The Role of Some Free-Ranging Animals in the Transmission of Multi-Host Species of Cryptosporidium Spp.

Background: We aimed to characterize Cryptosporidium spp. in rats, cats, pigeons, and crows. Methods: Fifty-five animal origin Cryptosporidium spp. genome were identified, genotyped and confirmed by nested PCR and of RFLP-PCR analysis as well as sequenced based on 18s rRNA and gp60 genes in Tehran (2012-2019). Finally, the phylogenetic analysis was performed by MEGA software (version 7). Results: By the molecular method, Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 24 (15.2%), 15 (15%), 2 (2%) and 13 (13%) cases of wild rats, cat, pigeon, and crow, respectively. Among the identified species by the RFLP pattern, most isolates were identified as C. parvum (24/157) 17.8% in rats, (15/100) 15% in cats, (13/100) 13%in crew and (2/100) 2% in pigeons; and the rest of the cases were C. muris and C. felis. The results of sequencing did not prove the existence of C. parvum, C. felis, C. muris, and rat genotype. Subtyping of C. parvum was indicated that the dominant subtype family belongs to the IId family and the subtype A20G1 was the most common subtype detected in all hosts while A19G1 was detected in one isolate of cat and pigeon. Conclusion: Free-ranging animals are infected by species/subtype of Cryptosporidium, which can infect humans. This shows by itself the hygienic importance of the free-ranging animals in urban ecosystems. In the transmission of human cryptosporidiosis, the multi-host Cryptosporidium species such as C. parvum, C. felis, and C. muris can be transferred potentially from these animals to humans.

Intestinal parasites and diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Investigating the association between infectious agents and non-communicable diseases is an interesting emerging field of research. Intestinal parasites (IPs) are one of the causes of gastrointestinal complications, malnutrition, growth retardation and disturbances in host metabolism, which can play a potential role in metabolic diseases such as diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of IPs in diabetic patients and the association between IPs and diabetes. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted from January 2000 to November 2022in published records by using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases as well as Google scholar search engine; Out of a total of 29 included studies, fourteen cross-sectional studies (2676 diabetic subjects) and 15 case-control studies (5478 diabetic/non-diabetic subjects) were reviewed. The pooled prevalence of IPs in diabetics and the Odds Ratio (OR) were evaluated by CMA V2. Results: In the current systematic review and meta-analysis, the pooled prevalence of IPs in diabetic patients was 26.5% (95% CI: 21.8-31.7%) with heterogeneity of I2 = 93.24%; P < 0.001. The highest prevalence based on geographical area was in Region of the Americas (13.3% (95% CI: 9.6-18.0)).There was significant association between the prevalence of intestinal parasites in diabetic cases compared to controls (OR, 1.72; 95% CI: 1.06-2.78). Conclusion: In line with the high prevalence of IPs in diabetic patients, significant association was found however, due to the limitations of the study, more studies should be conducted in developing countries and, the prevalence of IPs in diabetics should not be neglected.

Immune system roles in pathogenesis, prognosis, control, and treatment of Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Toxoplasma gondii is the protozoan causative agent of toxoplasmosis in humans and warm-blooded animals. Recent studies have illustrated that the immune system plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis by triggering immune cytokines like IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ and immune cells like DCs, Th1, and Th17. On the other hand, some immune components can serve as prognosis markers of toxoplasmosis. In healthy people, the disease is often asymptomatic, but immunocompromised people and newborns may suffer severe symptoms and complications. Therefore, the immune prognostic markers may provide tools to measure the disease progress and help patients to avoid further complications. Immunotherapies using monoclonal antibody, cytokines, immune cells, exosomes, novel vaccines, and anti-inflammatory molecules open new horizon for toxoplasmosis treatment. In this review article, we discussed the immunopathogenesis, prognosis, and immunotherapy of Toxoplasma gondii infection.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on the Global Molecular Epidemiology of Microsporidia Infection Among Rodents: A Serious Threat to Public Health.

BACKGROUND: Microsporidiosis as a zoonotic disease has caused serious health problems in high-risk groups, including immunosuppressed individuals. Among the potential animal reservoirs of microsporidia, rodents play a key role due to close-contact with humans and their dispersion in different environments. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the global status and genetic diversity of microsporidia infection in different rodents. METHODS: The standard protocol of preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched from 1 January 2000 to 15 April 2021. All peer-reviewed original research articles describing the molecular prevalence of microsporidia infection in rodents were included. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The point estimates and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using a random-effects model. The variance between studies (heterogeneity) were quantified by I2 index. RESULTS: Of 1695 retrieved studies, 22 articles (including 34 datasets) were included for final meta-analysis. The pooled global molecular prevalence (95% CI) of microsporidia infection in rodents was 14.2% (95% CI 10.9-18.3%). The highest prevalence of microsporidia was found in Apodemus spp. 27.3% (95% CI 15-44.5%). Enterocytozoon bieneusi was the most common pathogen (26/34; 76.47% studies) according to PCR-based methods, and the genotype D as the highest reported genotype (15 studies). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study showed a relatively high prevalence of microsporidia infection in rodents as a potential animal reservoir for infecting human. Given the relatively high incidence of microsporidiosis, designing strategies for control, and prevention of microsporidia infection in rodents should be recommended.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the global prevalence of cattle microsporidiosis with focus on Enterocytozoon bieneusi: An emerging zoonotic pathogen.

Microsporidiosis, caused by the zoonotic eukaryote microsporidia spp. have serious health threat in high-risk groups, including immunocompromised individuals. Cattle plays a major role as reservoirs of microsporidia among the animals because of close-contact with humans. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and genetic diversity of cattle microsporidiosis at a global scale through systematic review and meta-analysis approach. A comprehensive literature searches of published articles related to the molecular distribution of microsporidiosis in cattle was conducted between 1 January 1990 and 20 December 2020. The confidence intervals (95 %) and point estimates were calculated using the random-effects model. A total of 1809 was retrieved from the initial search, after exclusion of irrelevant articles 37 articles met inclusion criteria to be included for final analysis. The estimated pooled prevalence of cattle microsporidiosis was 14 % (CI: 11.5-17 %) worldwide. Accordingly, the calves had the highest prevalence 20 % (CI: 14.8-26.5 %). According to internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene, Enterocytozoon bieneusi with genotypes BEB4 (22 studies), J (21 studies), and I (17 studies) were the highest reported genotypes. The present results highlight the role of cattle as reservoir hosts for human-infecting microsporidia. Strategies for control and prevention of these pathogens should be designed to mitigate the risk of cattle to human transmission.

Are Blastocystis hominis and Cryptosporidium spp. playing a positive role in colorectal cancer risk? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal protozoa Blastocystis hominis and Cryptosporidium spp. are two influential factors in intestinal complications and malignancies. In present study, we estimated the pooled prevalence and odds ratio (OR) of the two parasites in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and their possible association with the deadly disease. METHOD: Our systematic search was conducted for published researches between January 1, 2000 and April 30, 2022 by using four international databases include Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science as well as Google scholar search engine. The random- and fixed-effects models were used to estimate the pooled prevalence, OR, and 95% confidence interval (CI) by comprehensive meta-analysis (V2.2, Bio stat) software. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. RESULTS: Thirteen papers (seven case-control and six cross-sectional studies) for B. hominis/CRC and six papers (two case-control and four cross-sectional studies) for Cryptosporidium spp./CRC were eligible to include in data synthesis. Pooled prevalence of B. hominis and Cryptosporidium spp. in CRC patients was calculated to be 26.8% (95% CI 19.4-35.7%) and 12.7% (95% CI 6.8-22.5%), respectively. Based on case-control studies, significant difference was found between case and controls in both protozoa (B. hominis OR 2.10; 95% CI 1.39-3.18% vs. Cryptosporidium spp. OR 5.06; 95% CI 1.8-13.6%). Considering the Blastocystis subtypes, ST1 (5/6; 83.33% studies) and ST3 (5/6; 83.33% studies) had the highest number of reports in CRC patients. Regarding the Cryptosporidium species, only C. parvum and C. hominis were reported. CONCLUSION: Given the significant prevalence of both parasites in CRC patients and their statistically significant association, there is a need to pay more attention to these two intestinal parasites in under treatment patients.

Serosurvey of anti-Toxocara antibodies and associated risk factors in domestic dogs and cats owners in Karaj, Alborz Province of Iran.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Toxocariasis is a zoonotic parasitic infection with important public health considerations. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anti-Toxocara species antibodies and associated risk factors in domestic dogs and cats referred by their owners to veterinary clinics located in Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 540 owners of dogs and cats was conducted between July - December 2020. A questionnaire administered by direct interviews was used to collect socio-demographic information and data on associated risk factors. Blood samples were collected and tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The overall sero-prevalence of toxocariasis among the 540 participants was 16.7% (90 of 540). When participants included in the sample were classified by age, those aged 10-29 years demonstrated higher Toxocara infection prevalence than other groups (45.6%, 41 of 90). Univariate analysis revealed that the pet owners who had contact with soil [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 7.61, 95% CI: 6.06-9.24, P = 0.028], practiced handwashing after contact with dogs and cats (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.15-4.85, P = 0.046), and feeding the pets with raw meat (AOR = 11.01, 95% CI: 5.21-19.43, P = 0.023) had an increased risk of acquiring toxocariasis. The study showed that demographic characteristics such as age, gender, place of residence, education, and pet's habitats were not significantly associated with toxocariasis. CONCLUSIONS: Given the findings and the progressive impact of toxocariasis in public health and its high prevalence in developing countries, including Iran, measures should be taken to inform the public about zoonoses and eliminate their putative transmission.

In vitro anti-gastrointestinal cancer activity of Toxocara canis -derived peptide: Analyzing the expression level of factors related to cell proliferation and tumor growth.

Background: Recently, a hypothesis about the negative relationship between cancers and parasites has been proposed and investigated; some parasitic worms and their products can affect the cancer cell proliferation. Due to the potential anti-cancer effect of helminthic parasites, in the present study, the excretory-secretory protein of Toxocara canis (T. canis) parasite was used to evaluate the possible anti-cancer properties and their effect on gastrointestinal and liver cancer cell proliferation-related genes in laboratory conditions. Methods and materials: The selected synthesized peptide fraction from the T. canis excretory-secretory Troponin protein peptide (ES TPP) was exposed at 32, 64, 128, and 256 µg/ml concentrations to three gastrointestinal cancer cell lines AGS, HT-29, and Caco 2, as well as HDF cells as normal cell lines. We used the MTT assay to evaluate cellular changes and cell viability (CV). Variations in gene (Bcl-2, APAF1, ZEB1, VEGF, cyclin-D1, and caspase-3) expression were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR. Results: After 24 h of exposure to pept1ides and cell lines, a decrease in CV was observed at a concentration of 64 µg/ml and compared to the control group. Then, after 48 h, a significant decrease in the CV of Caco 2 cells was observed at a concentration of 32 µg/ml; in the other cancer cell lines, concentrations above 32 µg/ml were effective. The peptide was able to significantly alter the expression of the studied genes at a concentration of 100 µg/ml. Conclusion: Although the studied peptide at high concentrations could have a statistically significant effect on cancer cells, it is still far from the standard drug and can be optimized and promising in future studies.