Serum levels of C-reactive protein and ferritin in COVID-19 patients infected with Toxoplasma gondii

Ann Parasitol. 2022;68(1):47-54. doi: 10.17420/ap6801.407.

Abstract

During infection, T. gondii disseminates by the circulatory system and establishes chronic infection in several organs. Almost third of humans, immunosuppressed individuals such as HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients, and organ transplant recipients are exposed to toxoplasmosis. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the possibility that Toxoplasma infection could be a risk factor for COVID-19 patients and its possible correlation with C-reactive protein and ferritin. Overall 220 patients referred to the Al Furat General Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq were enrolled from 2020-2021. All serum samples were tested for T. gondii immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) antibodies, C-reactive protein and ferritin levels. In patients with COVID-19, the results revealed a high positivity percentage for anti-Toxoplasma IgG. In COVID-19 patients infected with T. gondii, the C-reactive protein and ferritin levels were higher than the controls. The ferritin level was high in COVID-19 patients infected with toxoplasmosis compare with COVID-19 patient without toxoplasmosis in different gender and age while the level of CRP had no significant differences in COVID-19 patient with or without toxoplasmosis. These finding suggest that the incidental rate of toxoplasmosis could be considered as an indication to the high risk of COVID-19.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • COVID-19*
  • Ferritins
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Toxoplasma*
  • Toxoplasmosis*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Ferritins