IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i12p7515-d842701.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Liver Injury in US Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Amani Babekir

    (Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
    Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA)

  • Sayed Mostafa

    (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, 27411 NC, USA)

  • Radiah C. Minor

    (Department of Animal Sciences, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA)

  • Leonard L. Williams

    (Center for Excellence in Post-Harvest Technologies, North Carolina A&T State University, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA)

  • Scott H. Harrison

    (Department of Biology, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA)

  • Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi

    (Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
    Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA)

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ) is a ubiquitous obligatory intracellular parasite which infects over 40 million Americans and causes toxoplasmosis. Inside the human body, T. gondii can damage tissues and invade vital organs. Methods: This study evaluated the association of T. gondii infection and liver disease using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2010, with a sample size of 3371 participants (age 20–80 years). Toxoplasma infection was determined by the level of T. gondii IgG antibody in serum samples. Liver disease was assessed by liver injury biomarkers and the Fatty Liver Index (US-FLI). The evaluation of the association between T. gondii infection and liver disease included the calculation of the Mantel–Haenszel risk ratio (RRMH), Rho-Scott chi-square bivariate analyses, design-based t-tests, and linear and logistic regression models which were adjusted for demographic and anthropometric covariates. Results: Mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were significantly more elevated in the T. gondii IgG-positive (IgG+) participants as compared to T. gondii -negative (IgG−) participants, p = 0.0435 and 0.0310, respectively. In linear regression analysis, exposure to T. gondii IgG+ had statistically significant positive associations with AST ( p = 0.0211), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ( p = 0.0221), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) ( p = 0.0258) after adjusting for BMI, age, gender, and race. T. gondii exposure was associated with an elevated relative risk of chronic liver disease (CLD) (RRMH = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.05–1.51). This association was more pronounced in certain occupations, such as construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing, where Toxoplasma infection is more common ( p = 0.0477). Moreover, Toxoplasma infection increased the odds of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (OR = 6.99, 95% CI = 1.85–26.32, p = 0.0237). Conclusion: T. gondii IgG+ antibody was significantly associated with liver injury biomarkers (ALT, AST, GGT, and ALP) and an increased risk of CLD and NAFLD. Moreover, the association of Toxoplasma with CLD was more evident in specific occupations where the prevalence of Toxoplasma was high. The findings of this study provide insight into utilizing liver biomarkers and US-FLI to assess the health complications of Toxoplasma when imaging tests are not accessible.

Suggested Citation

  • Amani Babekir & Sayed Mostafa & Radiah C. Minor & Leonard L. Williams & Scott H. Harrison & Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi, 2022. "The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Liver Injury in US Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:12:p:7515-:d:842701
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/12/7515/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/12/7515/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tooran Nayeri Chegeni & Shahabeddin Sarvi & Afsaneh Amouei & Mahmood Moosazadeh & Zahra Hosseininejad & Sargis A. Aghayan & Ahmad Daryani, 2019. "Relationship between toxoplasmosis and obsessive compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, April.
    2. Amani Babekir & Sayed Mostafa & Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi, 2021. "The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Cardiovascular Biomarkers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, May.
    3. Peter J Hotez, 2008. "Neglected Infections of Poverty in the United States of America," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(6), pages 1-11, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Peter J Hotez, 2011. "America’s Most Distressed Areas and Their Neglected Infections: The United States Gulf Coast and the District of Columbia," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(3), pages 1-3, March.
    2. Peter J Hotez, 2012. "Engaging a Rising China through Neglected Tropical Diseases," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(11), pages 1-4, November.
    3. Peter J Hotez, 2009. "One World Health: Neglected Tropical Diseases in a Flat World," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(4), pages 1-3, April.
    4. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi & Alesia C. Ferguson & Katherine A. Stamatakis & Michael A. Province, 2021. "Combined Effect of Lead Exposure and Allostatic Load on Cardiovascular Disease Mortality—A Preliminary Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-9, June.
    5. Amani Babekir & Sayed Mostafa & Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi, 2021. "The Association of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and Cardiovascular Biomarkers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Peter J Hotez & Cory Booker, 2020. "STOP: Study, Treat, Observe, and Prevent Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(2), pages 1-3, February.
    7. Rachel M Lee & Laura B Moore & Maria Elena Bottazzi & Peter J Hotez, 2014. "Toxocariasis in North America: A Systematic Review," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(8), pages 1-7, August.
    8. Donna L Tyungu & David McCormick & Carla Lee Lau & Michael Chang & James R Murphy & Peter J Hotez & Rojelio Mejia & Henry Pollack, 2020. "Toxocara species environmental contamination of public spaces in New York City," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, May.
    9. Parry, Luke & Radel, Claudia & Adamo, Susana B. & Clark, Nigel & Counterman, Miriam & Flores-Yeffal, Nadia & Pons, Diego & Romero-Lankao, Paty & Vargo, Jason, 2019. "The (in)visible health risks of climate change," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    10. Peter J Hotez & Bernard Pecoul, 2010. "“Manifesto” for Advancing the Control and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(5), pages 1-7, May.
    11. Peter J Hotez & Gavin Yamey, 2009. "The Evolving Scope of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(2), pages 1-2, February.
    12. John P. Bartkowski & Xiaohe Xu & Jerri S. Avery & Debbie Ferguson & Frankie J. Johnson, 2018. "Good Things in Small Packages? Evaluating an Economy of Scale Approach to Behavioral Health Promotion in Rural America," J, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-15, June.
    13. Pasian, Mara Silvia & Benitez, Priscila & Lacharité, Carl, 2020. "Child neglect and poverty: A Brazilian study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    14. Jon Andrus & Maria Elena Bottazzi & Jennifer Chow & Karen A Goraleski & Susan P Fisher-Hoch & Jocelyn K Lambuth & Bruce Y Lee & Harold S Margolis & Joseph B McCormick & Peter Melby & Kristy O Murray &, 2013. "Ears of the Armadillo: Global Health Research and Neglected Diseases in Texas," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(6), pages 1-6, June.
    15. Tooran Nayeri Chegeni & Mehdi Sharif & Shahabeddin Sarvi & Mahmood Moosazadeh & Mahbobeh Montazeri & Sargis A Aghayan & Nader Jafari Balalami & Shirzad Gholami & Zahra Hosseininejad & Reza Saberi & Da, 2019. "Is there any association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-17, June.
    16. Alexandra Gulachenski & Bruno M. Ghersi & Amy E. Lesen & Michael J. Blum, 2016. "Abandonment, Ecological Assembly and Public Health Risks in Counter-Urbanizing Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-26, May.
    17. Peter Congdon & Patsy Lloyd, 2011. "Toxocara infection in the United States: the relevance of poverty, geography and demography as risk factors, and implications for estimating county prevalence," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 56(1), pages 15-24, February.
    18. Peter J Hotez & Serap Aksoy, 2011. "An Interfaith Dialogue on the Neglected Tropical Diseases," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(12), pages 1-2, December.
    19. Peter J Hotez, 2010. "Neglected Infections of Poverty among the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(1), pages 1-6, January.
    20. Alasdair Cohen & Md Rasheduzzaman & Amanda Darling & Leigh-Anne Krometis & Marc Edwards & Teresa Brown & Tahmina Ahmed & Erin Wettstone & Suporn Pholwat & Mami Taniuchi & Elizabeth T. Rogawski McQuade, 2022. "Bottled and Well Water Quality in a Small Central Appalachian Community: Household-Level Analysis of Enteric Pathogens, Inorganic Chemicals, and Health Outcomes in Rural Southwest Virginia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-12, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:12:p:7515-:d:842701. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.