Evaluation of the relationship between cryptogenic epilepsy and Toxoplasma gondii infection: A meta-analysis
Cryptogenic epilepsy and toxoplasmosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13623146Keywords:
Toxoplasmosis, Cryptogenic epilepsy, Meta-analysisAbstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between toxoplasmosis and cryptogenic epilepsy (CE) by performing a meta-analysis of the results of the studies that previously discussed the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and CE.
A systematic search was first conducted using the Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases for meta-analysis. Jamovi (Ver. 2.4.1.0) statistical analysis program was used for meta-analysis. The amount of heterogeneity was estimated using the restricted maximum-likelihood estimator. In addition to the estimation of tau², the Q-test for heterogeneity and the I² statistic are reported. The analysis was carried out using the log odds ratio as the outcome measure. A random-effects model was fitted to the data. Meta-analysis findings were presented as forest plots, and the correlation between T. gondii infection and epilepsy was demonstrated by the OR and 95% CI. Effect sizes of correlation coefficients were interpreted according to Cohen.
It was seen that four studies included in the analysis were conducted in Egypt, three studies in Türkiye, and two studies in Iran (k:9). The results of the meta-analysis that included nine studies showed a pooled OR of 0.89 (95% CI 0.39 to 1.39). This OR value suggests a strong association between T. gondii infection and increased risk of CE according to the Cohen classification.
There was a relationship between toxoplasmosis and increased CE. However, seroprevalence studies should be performed in larger populations to better understand the relationship between CE and T. gondii. In addition, molecular studies of how T. gondii infection affects the neurological system should be performed to interpret the relationship between toxoplasmosis and CE.
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