Association between T3, T4, and TSH hormones proportion and Toxoplasma gondii anti-IgG seroprevalence in patients suffering from clinical and drug-controlled thyroid dysfunctions in southeastern Iran

Abstract

Objective: Toxoplasma gondii is an important agent responsible for many hormonal and behavioral disorders in humans. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that ‘T. gondii infection interferes with thyroid hormones secretion or thyroid drug treatment'. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that involved 249 patients suffering from thyroid dysfunctions, divided into 3 groups: hypothyroidism (n=107), hyperthyroidism (n=96), and drug-controlled thyroid disorders (n=91), referred to Seyedoshohada Kerman private clinic. Serum samples were tested for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) along with Toxoplasma anti-IgG using ELISA technique. Demographic information was collected using a demographic Results: The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies among patients with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and drug-controlled thyroid disorders was 22.4, 19.8, and 22 respectively. The mean value of thyroid hormones of positive T. gondii samples in hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and drug-controlled thyroid disorders was TSH=7.95, T3=1.12, T4=2.36; TSH=0.14, T3=1.42, T4=7.85; and TSH=2.75, T3=1.12, T4=1.45 respectively. The seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii infection was 40.4 among individuals with a history of contact with pets and 26.3 among the rural dwellers. Conclusion: There was no significant difference between T. gondii infection among the three study groups. A comparison of serum levels of thyroid hormones between infected and non-infected individuals in the above-mentioned groups illustrated that latent toxoplasmosis wasn't significantly associated with thyroid hormones secretion. Also, contact with pets and the rural lifestyle has a positive association with T. gondii seroprevalence. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.