American researchers have discovered a link between a common parasite that affects people, derived from undercooked or raw meat and contaminated water, and certain types of brain tumors.
Patients infected with "Toxoplasma gondii," also known as "T. gondii," are found to be at a higher risk of developing highly lethal gliomas, according to a study conducted by scientists from the American Cancer Society, the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, and the research institute. Researchers in the Population Sciences Department of the American Cancer Society examined blood samples from 111 individuals in a U.S. database and 646 in Norway. The results showed that those with higher levels of antibodies to T. gondii appeared to be at an increased risk of glioma, an aggressive form of brain cancer that accounts for 80% of malignant tumors, as reported by Russia Today.
Approximately 20% to 50% of the global population is exposed to T. gondii bacteria, according to the study. Additionally, about half of the world's population is susceptible to the T. gondii parasite, but cases of fatal brain cysts are rare. Most people can fight off the common parasite, making them often unaware of their exposure. However, T. gondii can sometimes cause the host to develop cysts in the brain, which can lead to swelling; researchers stated that this swelling might be what leads to gliomas.
While there is a correlation between high levels of antibodies to T. gondii and gliomas, researchers emphasize that it is crucial to recognize that gliomas are a very rare diagnosis, and they have not established a direct link between the two. It is noted that 6.6 individuals per 100,000 patients are diagnosed with glioma each year, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, and the most common type of glioma is glioblastoma, with a survival rate of about 5% five years after diagnosis.
