Toxoplasma gondii and Its Relation to Cancer

Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic protozoan parasite that infects a wide range of hosts, including humans, mammals, and birds. It causes toxoplasmosis, a disease that can be transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water or through contact with infected animal feces. As an obligate intracellular parasite, it secretes effector molecules to regulate biological processes such as energetic metabolism, immune response, and cellular signaling. In humans, infection can lead to symptoms such as fever, malaise, and lymphadenopathy. Pregnant women and immunocompromised patients are at risk of more severe complications, including stillbirth, fetal death, and central nervous system disorders. Recent studies have also linked T. gondii to a range of other diseases, including hypertension, inflammatory processes at the neuronal level, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, recurrent migraines, and suicidal behavior. While certain genes and signaling pathways in the parasite have been implicated in the development of cancer, it has also been shown to stimulate the immune system against cancer. Molecular changes in the host that lead to T. gondii infection appear to be influenced by geographic region and ethnic group, highlighting the complex relationship between infection and cancer. This chapter aims to provide an overview of T. gondii infection, its risk factors, its relationship with cancer, and its potential as an alternative treatment for tumors.