Abstract
BackgroundToxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with worldwide distribution, infecting a broad-range of humans and warm-blooded animals. In the current study, role of this parasite on secondary sex ratio and risk of miscarriage was investigated.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 850 cord blood samples were collected in Tehran, Iran, 2014–2015. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess anti-Toxoplasma IgG in samples. Information such as sex of the neonates and age, number of previous pregnancies and history of miscarriage of the mothers were recorded in questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the possible relationship between the latent toxoplasmosis and the highlighted parameters.ResultsLogistic regression analysis showed that the odds of having a male neonate in seropositive women is nearly 64% higher than that in seronegative women (OR = 1.64, CI95 = 1.16–2.33, P = 0.005). The odds ratio of having male neonate increased to 2.10 (CI95 = 1.24–3.57, P = 0.006) in high-titer seropositive women, compared to that in seronegative control group. The odds of having a miscarriage history was approximately two and a half times greater in seropositive women than in seronegative ones (OR = 2.45, CI95 = 1.56–3.87, P < 0.001). The odds ratio of having miscarriage increased to 2.76 (CI95 = 1.61–4.73, P < < .001) in low-titer seropositive women, compared to that in seronegative control group.ConclusionResults of the current study have shown that T. gondii infection affects secondary sex ratio in human offspring and can be addressed as one of the major miscarriage causes in women.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with worldwide distribution, infecting a broad-range of humans and warm-blooded animals
The secondary sex ratio is nearly 0.51 in human [9], which is affected by factors including age of parents [10], stress, immunosuppression, paternal endocrine disruption such as diabetes [11,12,13] and socioeconomic status of the parents [14]
The highest frequency of miscarriage in Toxoplasma-positive and Toxoplasma-negative subjects was observed in ≥31 age group (Fig. 2), the association between the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and age of the women was not statistically significant (P = 0.4)
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with worldwide distribution, infecting a broad-range of humans and warm-blooded animals. Role of this parasite on secondary sex ratio and risk of miscarriage was investigated. Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases, caused by a coccidian protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii [1]. Three studies have assessed the effects of latent Toxoplasma infection on sex ratio at birth in humans and mice and all three found significant effects [15,16,17]. The present study was carried out to assess possible effects of T. gondii infection on secondary sex ratio and risk of miscarriage in 850 cord blood serum samples from delivered women in Tehran, Iran, 2014–2015
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