RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 High frequency of infection of lung cancer patients with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii JF ERJ Open Research JO erjor FD European Respiratory Society SP 00143-2018 DO 10.1183/23120541.00143-2018 VO 5 IS 2 A1 Jaroslav Bajnok A1 Muyassar Tarabulsi A1 Helen Carlin A1 Kevin Bown A1 Thomas Southworth A1 Josiah Dungwa A1 Dave Singh A1 Zhao-Rong Lun A1 Lucy Smyth A1 Geoff Hide YR 2019 UL http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/5/2/00143-2018.abstract AB Background Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite that can cause a wide range of clinical conditions, including miscarriage and pneumonia. The global prevalence is 30% in humans, but varies by locality (e.g. in the UK it is typically 10%). The association between lung cancer and T. gondii infection was investigated by direct detection in lung tissue samples.Methods Lung tissue samples were taken from patients undergoing lung resection surgery (n=72) for suspected lung cancer (infection prevalence 100% (95% CI: 93.9–100%)). All 72 participants were confirmed as having lung cancer following subsequent diagnostic tests. In addition, bronchial biopsy samples were collected from non-lung cancer healthy control subjects (n=10). Samples were tested for T. gondii using PCR amplification of T. gondii specific gene markers and T. gondii specific immunohistochemistry.Results All 72 lung cancer patients were infected with T. gondii (prevalence 100% (95% CI: 93.9–100%)). Of which, 95.8% (n=69) of patients showed evidence of active parasite stages. Infection prevalence in the controls (10%) was significantly lower (p<0.0001).Conclusions Clinicians treating lung cancer patients should be aware of the potential presence of the parasite, the potential for induction of symptomatic complications and interference with treatment success.Toxoplasma gondii infection was found to be present in all lung tissue samples taken from 72 cancer patients (including active parasite stages in 96% of samples) http://bit.ly/2DhPPRN