Toxoplasmosis landscape: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence in healthy and non-healthy individuals in Sudan (1990–2025)

Abstract Background Human toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonotic infection with significant public health implications, particularly in Sudan, where the disease burden is high. However, the overall prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the country remains unclear. This systematic review and m...

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Main Authors: Abdullah Mohammed, Nasir Ibrahim, Musa Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11265-y
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author Abdullah Mohammed
Nasir Ibrahim
Musa Ahmed
author_facet Abdullah Mohammed
Nasir Ibrahim
Musa Ahmed
author_sort Abdullah Mohammed
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Human toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonotic infection with significant public health implications, particularly in Sudan, where the disease burden is high. However, the overall prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the country remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled seroprevalence of human toxoplasmosis in Sudan and identify associated risk factors. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted in English and Arabic databases for studies published before February 28, 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. The meta-analysis included 60 studies with 10,866 participants from different regions of Sudan. Results The pooled seroprevalence of human toxoplasmosis was 36% (95% CI: 31–41%), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 97.29%, P < 0.0001). Hemodialysis patients exhibited the highest prevalence (56%), followed by women of childbearing age (48%) and HIV patients (42%). Geographically, northern Sudan had the highest prevalence (46%), while western Sudan had the lowest (17%). The latex agglutination test (LAT) was the most frequently used diagnostic method (56.7% of cases). Temporal analysis suggested that the prevalence of toxoplasmosis has slightly declined in recent years, likely due to improved hygiene, sanitation, and increased use of antiparasitic treatments. Conclusion Toxoplasmosis remains highly endemic in Sudan, with certain groups—including males, hemodialysis patients, women of childbearing age, HIV patients, and workers exposed to animals—at heightened risk. Targeted public health interventions are necessary to reduce the disease burden among high-risk populations.
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spelling doaj-art-402d8cb76e8041f587859e7025df74392025-08-20T04:01:18ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342025-07-0125111910.1186/s12879-025-11265-yToxoplasmosis landscape: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence in healthy and non-healthy individuals in Sudan (1990–2025)Abdullah Mohammed0Nasir Ibrahim1Musa Ahmed2Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of GadarifDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic UniversityDepartment of Veterinary Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, AL-Salam UniversityAbstract Background Human toxoplasmosis is a widespread zoonotic infection with significant public health implications, particularly in Sudan, where the disease burden is high. However, the overall prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the country remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled seroprevalence of human toxoplasmosis in Sudan and identify associated risk factors. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted in English and Arabic databases for studies published before February 28, 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. The meta-analysis included 60 studies with 10,866 participants from different regions of Sudan. Results The pooled seroprevalence of human toxoplasmosis was 36% (95% CI: 31–41%), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 97.29%, P < 0.0001). Hemodialysis patients exhibited the highest prevalence (56%), followed by women of childbearing age (48%) and HIV patients (42%). Geographically, northern Sudan had the highest prevalence (46%), while western Sudan had the lowest (17%). The latex agglutination test (LAT) was the most frequently used diagnostic method (56.7% of cases). Temporal analysis suggested that the prevalence of toxoplasmosis has slightly declined in recent years, likely due to improved hygiene, sanitation, and increased use of antiparasitic treatments. Conclusion Toxoplasmosis remains highly endemic in Sudan, with certain groups—including males, hemodialysis patients, women of childbearing age, HIV patients, and workers exposed to animals—at heightened risk. Targeted public health interventions are necessary to reduce the disease burden among high-risk populations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11265-yHuman toxoplasmosisSudanSeroprevalenceSystematic reviewMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Abdullah Mohammed
Nasir Ibrahim
Musa Ahmed
Toxoplasmosis landscape: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence in healthy and non-healthy individuals in Sudan (1990–2025)
BMC Infectious Diseases
Human toxoplasmosis
Sudan
Seroprevalence
Systematic review
Meta-analysis
title Toxoplasmosis landscape: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence in healthy and non-healthy individuals in Sudan (1990–2025)
title_full Toxoplasmosis landscape: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence in healthy and non-healthy individuals in Sudan (1990–2025)
title_fullStr Toxoplasmosis landscape: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence in healthy and non-healthy individuals in Sudan (1990–2025)
title_full_unstemmed Toxoplasmosis landscape: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence in healthy and non-healthy individuals in Sudan (1990–2025)
title_short Toxoplasmosis landscape: a systematic review and meta-analysis of seroprevalence in healthy and non-healthy individuals in Sudan (1990–2025)
title_sort toxoplasmosis landscape a systematic review and meta analysis of seroprevalence in healthy and non healthy individuals in sudan 1990 2025
topic Human toxoplasmosis
Sudan
Seroprevalence
Systematic review
Meta-analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-025-11265-y
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AT nasiribrahim toxoplasmosislandscapeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofseroprevalenceinhealthyandnonhealthyindividualsinsudan19902025
AT musaahmed toxoplasmosislandscapeasystematicreviewandmetaanalysisofseroprevalenceinhealthyandnonhealthyindividualsinsudan19902025