CD4 and CD8 T Lymphocyte Cell Count in β-Thalassemia Major Patients Infected with Toxoplasmosis

N. Shihab, Raghad; Ali Saeed, Sarah; H. Sulaiman, Evan

year 19, Issue 3 (May - June 2025) Iran J Med Microbiol 2025, 19(3): 203-209 | Back to browse issues page

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N. Shihab R, Ali Saeed S, H. Sulaiman E. CD4 and CD8 T Lymphocyte Cell Count in β-Thalassemia Major Patients Infected with Toxoplasmosis. Iran J Med Microbiol 2025; 19 (3) :203-209
URL: http://ijmm.ir/article-1-2678-en.html

CD4 and CD8 T Lymphocyte Cell Count in β-Thalassemia Major Patients Infected with Toxoplasmosis

Raghad N. Shihab¹

, Sarah Ali Saeed²

, Evan H. Sulaiman³

1- Department of Cancer Research, Iraqi Center for Cancer and Medical Genetic Research, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq , raghad.shihab@uomustansiriyah.edu.iq
2- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Ibn Sina University for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baghdad, Iraq
3- Department of Applied Pathological Analysis College of Science, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract: (199 Views)

Background and Aim: A collection of hereditary hemoglobin disorders known as thalassemia are typified by uneven globin-chain output due to inadequate production of at least one globin chain. Toxoplasma (T.) gondii parasites reside in human body as intermediate and final hosts without any symptom. Only congenitally-infected children and immunocompromised people typically exhibit severe illness of toxoplasmosis. This study aimed to determine the CD4 and CD8 count in patients with β-thalassemia major (BTM) infected with toxoplasmosis.
Materials and Methods: Ninety blood samples from BTM, BTM with toxoplasmosis, and negative control groups were selected. Among the samples, 70 were from patients with BTM, while the remaining 20 samples came from healthy people as control subjects. The IgG and IgM antibody levels against T. gondii were quantified using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) and CD4 and CD8 T cells count was measured using ELISA kits.
Results: The CMIA results from antibody levels demonstrated significant differences (P<0.001) between BTM patients with toxoplasmosis and negative control group. The CD4 & CD8 T cell counting of BTM patients with toxoplasmosis showed highly significant difference (P<0.0001) compared to their controls.
Conclusion: Counting CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes in individuals with BTM who have contracted toxoplasmosis offered important information about their immune response and how to treat the illness. Tracking these subsets can help for direct clinical interventions and enhance the patients’ outcomes, especially when chronic infection and immunological fatigue are involved.

Keywords: β-thalassemia Major, CD4, CD8, Toxoplasma (T.) gondii

Full-Text [PDF 520 kb] (37 Downloads)

Type of Study: Original Research Article | Subject: Medical Parasitology
Received: 2025/05/23 | Accepted: 2025/08/3 | ePublished: 2025/08/18

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