A comparative study between autistic and cancerous children regarding the antibody’s detection against the toxoplasma gondii in relation to some risk factors

Asan Muhannad  Mohamed; Hiro Mohammed Obaid; Wafa Mahmood Jasim

doi:10.56286/abd9a960

Authors

Asan Muhannad Mohamed Kirkuk Directorate of Health, Ministry of Health, Kirkuk 36001, Iraq
Hiro Mohammed Obaid Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Northern Technical University, Kirkuk 36001, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2529-0257
Wafa Mahmood Jasim Dialysis Techniques Department, College of Health and Medical Techniques, Northern Technical University, Kirkuk 36001, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5870-7226

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56286/abd9a960

Keywords:

Cancer, Toxoplasma, Antibodies, Autism

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite and about one-third of people on plants are affected by it. A wide range of factors, such as age, environment, way of life, cultural traditions, and personal health habits, can have an important effect on whether or not T. gondii can continue to exist and spread globally. Autism is complex developmental disorder characterized by altered social communication, with unknown origin. Autism is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental conditions in the world. The aim of the study was to compare children with autism spectrum and people with cancer regarding the antibody’s detection to toxoplasma parasite in Kirkuk city. 70 autistic children, 20 non-autistic children, 70 cancer patients, and 20 healthy people, were collected between November 2022 and April 2023, by using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among them after receiving an official agreement. Findings indicated that autistic children (44.3%, 31/70) had significantly higher seroprevalence than non-autistic children (30%, 6/20), and cancer patients showed (31.4%, 22/70) had a higher rate than controls (10%, 2/20). Among them 11 (15.7%) autistic children and cancer patients were shown to have Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies, whereas 16 (22.9%) autistic children and 4 (5.7%) cancer patients were found to have T. gondii IgM antibodies. Toxoplasma gondii in urban areas have highest seroprevalence rate with Toxo-IgM (21.4%) in autistic children and (14.3%) in cancer patients, and in rural areas have high rate with Toxo-IgG 2.8% in autistic children and with Toxo-IgG&IgM (4.3%) in cancer patients. Further preventive programs can be conducted through the developmental pathways leading to autism spectrum disorders and offer good, updated approaches for its prevention and treatment with the further large group populations are needed to identify risk factors.

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