The Neglected Role of Trichomonas tenax in Oral Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

• Published in: Acta parasitologica Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 715 - 732
• Main Authors: Eslahi, Aida Vafae, Olfatifar, Meysam, Abdoli, Amir, Houshmand, Elham, Johkool, Morteza Ghanbari, Zarabadipour, Mahdieh, Abadi, Pegah Afsaneh, Ghorbani, Azam, Mirzadeh, Monirsadat, Badri, Milad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-09-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Age; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Candidiasis; Clinical trials; Ecology; Epidemiology; Gingivitis; Humans; Infections; Medical Microbiology; Meta-analysis; Microbiology; Microenvironments; Oral cavity; Oral diseases; Parasitic diseases; Parasitology; Periodontal diseases; Periodontitis; Protozoa; Review; Subgroups; Systematic review; Trichomonas; Trichomonas Infections - epidemiology; Trichomonas tenax; Oral health; Prevalence; Worldwide; Trichomonas tenax
• ISSN: 1230-2821; 1896-1851
• DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00340-4

Purpose
Trichomonas tenax
(
T. tenax
) is a commensal flagellated protozoan found in periodontal microenvironment of the oral cavity, with a possible role in periodontal diseases. The purpose of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the worldwide prevalence of
T. tenax
infection and to show the neglected association of this parasitic infection with oral diseases.
Methods
To find literatures published until August 2020, five English databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar) were explored. Finally, 65 papers were qualified to be included in the current study.
Results
Our results revealed a global pooled prevalence of 17% (95% CI 14–22%) for
T. tenax
infection. The highest prevalence was estimated at 56% (42–69%) in Chile, while the lowest prevalence was related to Kenya with 3% (1–6%). The age-based analysis found that the infection was most common in 46–55 mean age group with 15% (0–100%). The overall prevalence regarding culture method, molecular method and direct method was 21% (12–32%), 19% (8–35%) and 17% (12–23%), respectively. Moreover, the subgroup analysis showed the pooled prevalence in patient with candidiasis [22% (3–52%)], gingivitis [21% (9–36%)] and periodontitis [27% (10–48%)].
Conclusion
Our study specified a connection between
T. tenax
protozoa and periodontitis disease. However, more epidemiological studies as well as clinical trials are needed to precisely identify this relation.