Role of Toxoplasma gondii infection in serum level of Testosterone

Toxoplasmosis is the disease caused by an intercellular protozoan called Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma has global expansion and infects a wide range of warm blood animals. Presence of parasites inside cells affects cellular various activities and causes changes in cellular mechanisms. This study was carried out in order to evaluate the changes in testosterone level due to Toxoplasma gondii. This cohort study was performed on individuals who referred to one of Tehran military hospitals in year 2009. 180 people were selected by simple random sampling. 5 ml of blood was taken from individuals and 1 ml serum was separated and used in order to determine toxoplasmosis infection and testosterone concentration by ELISA method. Hirsutism, hair loss, weight and height were also evaluated and documented. The results were analyzed by SPSS 16 software using independent t-test and Pearson correlation. Of 180 serum samples (73 females and 107 males), 24femals (13/33%) and 39 males (21/66%) had anti Toxoplasma IgG antibody. The results showed significant correlation between Toxoplasma and testosterone increase in women (p=0.002), testosterone increase in men (p<0.0001), hair loss in women (p=0.002), hirsutism in women (p=0.001) and height increase in women and men, but there was no significant correlation between weight and Toxoplasma infection in women and men. There is a significant correlation between Toxoplasma infection and serum increase of testosterone, hirsutism, hair loss and height in patients. Results of this research can be beneficial in evaluation of disease symptoms and treatment protocol of toxoplasmosis patients for research centers and physicians.