Abstract
Studies on murine models show that Toxoplasma gondii infection reduces cerebral microvascular perfusion and induces neuroinflammation by activating cerebral endothelial cells, which could affect traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes. Whether TBI inflammatory profile and outcomes differ in persons with concurrent latent infection with Toxoplasma gondii has not yet been elucidated in TBI patients, constituting the core of this study. Understanding the impact of chronic T. gondii infection on neuroinflammation after TBI may ensure better management and prognosis of TBI. This study aimed to investigate the inflammatory profile in TBI patients and investigate the influence of concurrent T. gondii infection on inflammatory markers and TBI outcomes. The level of inflammatory markers [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, interferon-gamma (INF-ɣ), Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)], and Toxoplasma gondii infection were detected in serum obtained < 24 h post-injury. Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) was used to evaluate the 6-month outcome post-discharge. The Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis’s rank sum tests were used to compare concentrations of inflammatory markers to T. gondii infection and TBI outcome. T. gondii infection was detected in 33% (52/160) of TBI cases. There was a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the concentrations of all inflammatory markers (IM) in TBI patients compared with the healthy controls. Higher levels of IL-6, INF-ɣ, and TNF-α were associated with mortality. Findings from this study show an increase in IM levels for all the T. gondii-positive TBI cases, which were significant for IL-1β (P < 0.001) and TNF-α (P < 0.001). IL-1β and TNF-α, had significantly greater density values, above 30pg/mL and 90pg/mL, respectively, in TBI patients infected with T. gondii, compared to greater density values, below 30 pg/mL and 90 pg/mL, respectively, for TBI patients seronegative to T. gondii. Concurrent T. gondii infection in TBI significantly influenced the inflammation profile of patients. Further multicenter studies with larger sample sizes will provide more insights into T. gondii induced neuropathology and prognostication in TBI care.
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Data availability
The data sets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Abbreviations
- TBI:
-
Traumatic Brain Injury
- SSA:
-
Sub-Saharan Africa
- LMICs:
-
Low-middle-income countries
- IL:
-
Interleukin
- INF-ɣ:
-
Interferon-gamma
- TNF-α:
-
Tumour necrosis factor-alpha
- GOSE:
-
Glasgow-coma outcome scale extended
- CT:
-
Computed tomography
- LHD:
-
Laquintinie hospital douala
- GBD:
-
Global burden of diseases
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Acknowledgements
We thank the administration and health personnel of the Laquintinie Hospital Douala for facilitating the data collection phase and to LabEx Physiology, Pharmacological Targets and Therapeutics of the University of Buea, Cameroon for their assistance laboratory analysis. The research was funded by the NIHR ref: NIHR132455 using UK aid from the UK Government to support global health research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK Government.
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The research was funded by the NIHR ref: NIHR132455 using UK aid from the UK Government to support global health research.
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F.C.B.: study design, data collection, Laboratory analysis, writing, G.S.T; study design, editing, A.I.R.M.: study design, editing, M.M.: study design, F.H.K.: editing, V.T.J.: Laboratory analysis, E.Y.: data analysis, B.K.M.: editing; K.W.W.: editing, P.J.A.H.: study design, editing, I.U.N.S.: study design, editing, and validation.All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
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Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Faculty of Health Sciences (IRB-FHS), University of Buea (Reference N◦ 1238-08), and administrative authorization was obtained from LHD. Informed consent was given by the participants or their family members, and all data collected was kept strictly confidential with physical and electronic barriers.
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Buh, F.C., Taiwe, G.S., Maas, A.I.R. et al. Concurrent Toxoplasma gondii infection and neuroinflammation in traumatic brain injury patients in a referral hospital in Douala Cameroon. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40284-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40284-1


