Toxoplasmosis among children with Down syndrome: A casecontrol study | ||
| Parasitologists United Journal | ||
| Article 6, Volume 16, Issue 2, August 2023, Pages 127-132 PDF (370.03 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/puj.2023.212443.1212 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Ayat Elblihy* 1; Amira Taman1; Yahya Wahba2; Marwa Hamouda3 | ||
| 1Departments of Medical Parasitology, Mansoura University, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt | ||
| 2Departments of Pediatrics Mansoura University, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt | ||
| 3Departments of Medical Parasitology,Mansoura University, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Abnormal folate metabolism might predispose to neural tube defects and Down syndrome (DS). T. gondii employs folates for its biosynthetic processes and has been implicated as a cause of altered folate levels, which may be a predisposing factor for DS. Objective: As little is known about the association between toxoplasmosis and DS, we aimed to assess the predisposing factors, and potential risk factors of toxoplasmosis and relation to folate metabolism among children with DS. Subjects and Methods: A case-control study was conducted including 90 children with DS, 90 healthy controls, and their mothers. They were investigated for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and serum folic acid levels. A questioner was also formulated to investigate the potential risk factor for each participant. Results: Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were significantly detected in 17.78% of children with DS and 6.67% of controls (P=0.023). Exposure to toxoplasmosis risk factors such as contact with the farm animals, soil exposure and drinking raw milk were more frequent among mothers of DS children. Serum folic acid levels were lower in mothers of DS children (53.3%) than mothers of the control group (33.3%), and in toxoplasmosis positive-DS children than toxoplasmosis negative-DS children. Conclusion: Toxoplasmosis appeared to be more frequent among DS children with major contributing effects of the socio-demographic factors. Maternal folate deficiency is apparently associated with toxoplasmosis in children with DS. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| children; Down syndrome; folic acid; maternal; toxoplasmosis | ||
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