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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii
Published on: December 9, 2014
Toxoplasma gondii and multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Calogero Edoardo Cicero1, Francesca Elsa Allibrio1, Loretta Giuliano1
1Section of Neurosciences, Department of Medical, Surgical, and Advanced Technologies G. F. Ingrassia, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Background And Purpose:
According to the hygiene hypothesis, infections by agents such as parasites have a protective role against the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Among parasites, Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite, showed evidence of a protective effect. This study was undertaken to summarize the available evidence on the association between T. gondii infection and MS.
Methods:
A systematic review of all the available articles published up to November 2020 has been conducted independently by two investigators in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Lissa, and SciELO. The association between T. gondii infection and MS has been pooled with a random effects model.
Results:
From 562 articles, seven were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis for a global population of 752 MS cases and 1282 controls. T. gondii infection was associated with MS with a pooled odds ratio of 0.68 (95% confidence interval = 0.50-0.93).
Conclusions:
The available evidence supports the hypothesis that T. gondii infection represents a protective factor against the development of MS.
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