Investigation of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Patients of the Isfahan Province

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii, the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, is the most prevalent protozoan parasite in the world. Objectives: Due to high prevalence of toxoplasmosis as well zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis with Leishmania major origin in Isfahan, the main objective of this study was to determine, whether there is any correlation between these two protozoan infections and the intensity of the high prevalence of co-infection. Methods: All the case and control samples (80 individuals), collected from suspected patients that had referred for a skin test to the Isfahan dermatology and Leishmaniasis research center from August to November 2014, were investigated. About 2 mL of venipuncture blood was taken from each case and control group member, and serum was separated and stored at -20°C until the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii specific IgM and IgG antibodies. Results: Overall, 27 (33.8%) candidates in the control group and 33 (41.3%) patients with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) were positive for Toxo-IgG. All samples were found to be Toxo-IgM negative. The prevalence difference of Toxoplasma infection in healthy controls and CL patients was not significant. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that the prevalence difference of Toxoplasma infection in healthy controls and CL patients was not significant. This means, there was no relationship between infection with CL and toxoplasmosis, thus infection with Toxoplasma gondii wasn't a risk factor for infection with Leishmaniasis; Toxoplasma gondii didn't show a preventive or inhibitory role against Leishmania infection.