Toxoplasmosis Frequency Rate in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Northeastern Iran.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Toxoplasmosis, caused by *Toxoplasma gondii*, is a widespread zoonotic disease.
• Emerging evidence suggests a link between *T. gondii* infection and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
• This study explores the association between *T. gondii* serology and RA clinical manifestations in Northeast Iran.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between *Toxoplasma gondii* infection and rheumatoid arthritis.
• To compare the seroprevalence of *T. gondii* in RA patients versus healthy controls.
• To explore potential correlations with RA disease markers.

Main Methods:

• Serum samples collected from 50 RA patients and 40 healthy controls in Mashhad, Iran.
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) used to detect anti-*T. gondii* IgG antibodies.
• RA patients and controls were matched for age, gender, and living area.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher prevalence of anti-*T. gondii* IgG antibodies in RA patients (48%) compared to controls (10%) (P <0.001).
• Elevated levels of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), and Rheumatoid Factor (RF) were observed in RA patients.
• A significant association was found between anti-*T. gondii* IgG positivity and RA (P <0.01).

Conclusions:

• A strong correlation exists between *Toxoplasma gondii* IgG positivity and rheumatoid arthritis in Northeast Iran.
• The findings highlight the need for further research to elucidate the role of *T. gondii* in RA pathogenesis.
• This study provides crucial epidemiological data on the *T. gondii*-RA association in the region.