Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40596954›Full record

SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2025

Global prevalence of intestinal parasites in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Yenesew Mihret Wondmagegn, Abebaw Setegn, Getu Girmay, Wagaw Abebe, Nega Dessie, Agenagnew Ashagre, Adane Derso, Adane Adugna, Mebratu Tamir, Tena Cherkos and 5 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. A hidden danger in cancer patients: intestinal parasites.Turkish journal of medical sciences · 2026
    Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Yenesew Mihret WondmagegnDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. yenesewmihiret@gmail.com.
Abebaw SetegnDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Getu GirmayDepartment of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Wagaw AbebeDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Science, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Nega DessieDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Agenagnew AshagreDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Science, Woldia University, Woldia, Ethiopia.
Adane DersoDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Adane AdugnaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Mebratu TamirDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Tena CherkosDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Birhanu MaledeDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Banchayehu GetnetDepartment of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Azanaw AmareDepartments of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Muluneh AssefaDepartments of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Gashaw Azanaw AmareDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntestinal parasite infections (IPIs) are a major cause of diarrhea and serve as a critical factor in infections affecting both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Opportunistic infections, in particular, present substantial challenges for those who are immunocompromised, such as cancer patients undergoing treatment. Therefore, this review aimed to assess the overall prevalence of these parasites in this vulnerable population worldwide.

methodsWe conducted a search across several databases, including PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, African Journals Online, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The protocol for this study was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42024621432) and was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 11.0 software, employing a random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence of intestinal parasites among cancer patients, along with a 95% confidence interval. To address sources of heterogeneity across studies, we conducted subgroup and sensitivity analyses. The presence of publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test statistic. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

resultsWe identified 34 eligible studies on intestinal parasites among cancer patients, covering a total of 4,752 participants. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites among cancer patients was found to be 28.42% (95% CI: 22.22-34.63) with a significant heterogeneity (I² = 97.5%, p = 0.000). Subgroup analysis indicated that patients with solid tumors had the highest prevalence of intestinal parasites at 31.13% (95% CI: 23.93-38.34), while those with mixed tumors had the lowest prevalence at 23.26% (95% CI: 13.96-53.95). Moreover, studies utilizing culture and PCR techniques revealed the highest prevalence of intestinal parasites, reported at 54.70% (95% CI: 46.39-63.00).

conclusionBased on the available studies, this meta-analysis revealed a substantial prevalence of intestinal parasites among cancer patients across the globe. The presence of intestinal parasites in immunocompromised individuals poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Thus, the findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, and further research is needed to develop effective control strategies to reduce the impact of these illnesses on public health worldwide. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

Intestinal Diseases, ParasiticNeoplasmsGlobal HealthHumansImmunocompromised HostParasitesPrevalenceGastrointestinal tractImmunocompromisedMeta-analysisNeoplasmsParasitesSystematic reviewWorldwide

Identifiers

PMID40596954
PMCPMC12211656

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.