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Meta-Analysis
. 2025 Jul 1;25(1):815.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-11207-8.

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

Yenesew Mihret Wondmagegn  1 , Abebaw Setegn  2 , Getu Girmay  3 , Wagaw Abebe  4 , Nega Dessie  2 , Agenagnew Ashagre  4 , Adane Derso  2 , Adane Adugna  5 , Mebratu Tamir  2 , Tena Cherkos  2 , Birhanu Malede  5 , Banchayehu Getnet  2 , Azanaw Amare  6 , Muluneh Assefa  6 , Gashaw Azanaw Amare  5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

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

Yenesew Mihret Wondmagegn et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Intestinal 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.

Methods: We 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.

Results: We 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).

Conclusion: Based 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.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal tract; Immunocompromised; Meta-analysis; Neoplasms; Parasites; Systematic review; Worldwide.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA chart of the selection steps of the included studies
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The pooled prevalence of intestinal parasite infection among cancer patients
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Funnel plot showing the publication bias
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Funnel plot showing the random effect trim and fill analysis results
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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