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Toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent Saudi women: Correlation with vitamin D
Zafar Rasheed1, Ali Shariq2, Ghaida B AlQefari3
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.
Objective:
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a life-threatening parasite particularly infecting the immunocompromised women. Deficiency of vitamin D is well reported in several infectious disorders. This study was undertaken to investigate a correlation of vitamin D deficiency with the onset of T. gondii infection in immunocompetent women from the central of Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
Blood samples were collected from 304 Saudi women from the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia. Specific immunoassays were used to determine the levels of T. gondii immunoglobulin G and vitamin D. The SPSS and the Prism Graph Pad statistical software were used for the data analysis.
Results:
Out of 304 women, 18.8% were found to be positive for toxoplasmosis. Interestingly, the serum levels of vitamin D in toxoplasma positive cases were found to be significantly low as compared with the levels of vitamin D in toxoplasma negative cases. Moreover, sociodemographic risk factors such as age, residence location, and consumption of fruits/vegetables were also found to be associated with vitamin D deficiency and with the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis.
Conclusion:
This study investigated a direct correlation of vitamin D deficiency with the severity of the toxoplasmosis in Saudi women. Therefore, it is predicted that vitamin D supplementation may provide protection against toxoplasma infection.
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