MOLECULAR DIAGNOSIS OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND SARCOCYSTIS HOMINIS IN SPUTUM SAMPLES FROM PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY DISEASES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61841/5a4j2a33Keywords:
Eucoccidiorida, , Toxoplasma gondii, Sarcocystis hominis, PCR, Sputum samplesAbstract
Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis hominis are worldwide zoonotic protozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa, which represent a serious public health burden. Although pulmonary toxoplasmosis is primarily described in immunocompromised patients, molecular data regarding the detection of these parasites on sputum specimens are limited. Therefore, we used PCR to detect Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis hominis DNA in sputum samples of patients with respiratory symptoms clinically compatible with pulmonary tuberculosis. A total of 30 sputum specimens for were collected from the patients who attending Chest and Respiratory Diseases Consulting Clinic in Maysan Governorate, Iraq from July-December/2025. The patients were similarly reported to have respiratory symptoms consistent with pulmonary tuberculosis, but were later found laboratory negative for tuberculosis on further investigation. Genomic DNA extraction was performed by Presto™ Rapid Extract PCR Kit and monoplex PCR assays were carried out using species primers. Molecular evidence thus proved that 8 of the thirty samples (26.7%) were Toxoplasma gondii positive giving a Sarcocystis hominis negative test result. These results suggest a possible association between respiratory manifestation of the disease and toxoplasmosis, as it was also observed in patients suspected to have pulmonary tuberculosis while the absence of Sarcocystis hominis detection might represent not only its narrow tissue tropism but also restricted features of transmission. PCR-based diagnosis of latent or falls parasitic diseases in sputum samples have high sensitivity and it might help to differentiate respiratory disease with pulmonary tuberculosis-like symptoms. These findings show the clinical importance of Toxoplasma gondii as a respiratory pathogen and suggest that molecular diagnostic methods are warranted to track this organism in endemic regions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Marwa A. Hassa, Muslim A.M. AL Tooma, Prof, Dr. Salwa A. Abduljaleel (Author)
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