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Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Compendium of Known Effects and Ongoing Research

health

Presence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in brain as a potential cause of risky behavior: a report of 102 autopsy cases

February 1, 2020
Samojlowicz, D. Twarowska-Malczynska, J. Borowska-Solonynko, A. Poniatowski, L. A. Sharma, N. Olczak, M.
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 2019, 38: 305 - 317 Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasmosis Brain Risky behavior Alcohol Mental health Drivers cerebral toxoplasmosis decreased level novelty seeking dopamine parasite host schizophrenia personality depression strategies
Click for abstract
Toxoplasmosis was linked to impairment in brain function, encompassing a wide range of behavioral and neuropsychiatric changes. Currently, the precise localization of Toxoplasma gondii in the human brain is limited and the parasite DNA was not found in population-based screening of autopsy cases. The aim of proposed study was to identify the presence of parasite DNA within the brain and its association with risky behavior and alcohol consumption in postmortem examination. Preliminarily, 102 cases with certain circumstances of death at time of forensic autopsy was included. Due to high risk of bias, the females were excluded from the analysis and final study group consists 97 cases divided into three groups: risky behavior, inconclusively risky behavior, and control group. The obtained tissue samples for Nested PCR covered four regions of the brain: symmetric left/right and anterior/posterior horns of lateral ventricles comprising lining ependyma and hippocampus. The second type of material comprised blood evaluated for antibodies prevalence using ELISA and alcohol concentration using HS-GC-FID. Analysis demonstrated 16.5% prevalence concerning the parasite DNA presence in examined brain tissue samples without specific distribution and association with age at death or days after death until an autopsy was performed. Results have shown correlation between occurrence of risky behavior leading to death and higher proportions of positive parasite DNA presence within the brain. Correlation was not observed between parasite DNA presence and excessive alcohol consumption. Conducted screening demonstrated correlation between parasite DNA presence in the brain with risky behavior and provided new information on possible effects of latent toxoplasmosis.

Tagged: alcohol, brain, Cerebral toxoplasmosis, decreased level, depression, health, host, mental, novelty seeking, Parasite, personality, risky behavior, Schizophrenia, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis

BehaviorMental healthPersonality

Depressiveness and neuroticism in Bartonella seropositive and seronegative subjects-preregistered case-controls study

September 3, 2018
Flegr, J., Preiss, M., Balatova, P.
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2018; 9
Click for abstract
Several recent studies have demonstrated the association of cat-related injuries with major depression and with depressiveness in the general population. It was suggested that cat-scratch disease, the infection with the bacterium Bartonella henselae, can be responsible for the observed association. However, no direct evidence for the role of the Bartonella infection in this association has been published until now. In this preregistered case-controls study performed on 250 healthy subjects tested earlier for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies, we searched for the positive association between presence of anamnestic anti-Bartonella IgG antibodies and depressiveness measured with Beck II inventory, depression subscale of neuroticism measured with N-70 questionnaire, and self-reported health problems. We found that that Bartonella seropositivity was positively correlated with Beck depression only in Toxoplasma-seronegative men and negatively correlated with health in Toxoplasma-seronegative women. Bartonella seropositivity expressed protective effects against Toxoplasma seropositivity-associated increased neuroticism in men while Toxoplasma-seropositivity expressed protective effects against Bartonella seropositivity-associated health problems in women. A comparison of the patterns of association of mental and physical health problems with Bartonella seropositivity and with reported cat-related injury suggests that different factor, possibly infection with different pathogen transmitted by cat related-injuries than the B. henselae, is responsible for the observed association of cat related-injuries with depressiveness and major depression. The existence of complex interactions between Bartonella seropositivity, Toxoplasma seropositivity, and sex also suggest that the effect of symbionts on the host's phenotype must by always studied in the context of other infections, and separately for men and women.

Tagged: animal-related injuries, Bartonella, bartonellosis, behavioral-changes, c-reactive protein, cat-scratch disease, depression, depressiveness, gender differences, health, infection, latent toxoplasmosis, major, Toxoplasma, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, women

Mental health

Prevalence of toxoplasmosis and its association with dementia in older adults in Central Africa: a result from the EPIDEMCA programme

February 12, 2018
Bouscaren, N., Pilleron,S. , Mbelesso,P. , Ndamba-Bandzouzi,B., Dartigues,J. F. , Clement,J. P. , Preux, P. M., Darde,M. L., Guerchet , M. , Grp, E.
Tropical Medicine and International Health 2018;23: 1304-1313
Click for abstract
Objective We aimed at estimating the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in older adults living in Central Africa and investigating its association with dementia using data from the Epidemiology of Dementia in Central Africa (EPIDEMCA) programme. Methods A cross-sectional multicentre population-based study was carried out among participants aged 73 (+/- 7) years on average, living in rural and urban areas of the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo between November 2011 and December 2012. Blood samples were collected from each consenting participant. The detection of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies was performed in 2014 in France using a commercially available ELISA kit. Participants were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics. DSM-IV criteria were required for a diagnosis of dementia. Multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to assess the association between toxoplasmosis infection and dementia. Results Among 1662 participants, the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 63.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 60.7-65.3) overall, 66.6% (95%CI: 63.4-69.8) in Central African Republic and 59.4% (95%CI: 56.1-62.7) in the Republic of Congo. In multivariate analyses, toxoplasmosis status was significantly associated with increasing age (P = 0.006), Republic of Congo (P = 0.002), urban area (P = 0.001) and previous occupation (P = 0.002). No associations between dementia and toxoplasmosis status or anti-T. gondii IgG titres were found. Conclusion Toxoplasma gondii infection was not associated with dementia among older adults in Central Africa. Our findings are consistent with previous studies and add to the knowledge on the relationship between T. gondii infection and neurological disorders.

Tagged: adults, alzheimers-disease, behavior, congo, dementia, genotypes, gondii infection, health, link, memory, older, seroprevalence, sub-saharan africa, Toxoplasma gondii

Cognitive functions

A reply to: Do toxoplasma-infected subjects have better leadership skills? Comment on paper “puppet master: possible influence of the parasite toxoplasma gondii on managers and employees”

February 12, 2017
Houdek, P.
Academy of Management Perspectives 2017; 31: 339-343
Tagged: association, ceos, executives, health, overconfidence, seeking, time

Behavior

Toxoplasma gondii infection and common mental disorders in the Finnish general population

January 3, 2017
Suvisaari, J., Torniainen-Holm, M., Lindgren, M., Harkanen, T., Yolken, R. H.
Journal of Affective Disorders 2017; 223: 20-25
Click for abstract
Objective: We investigated whether T. gondii seropositivity is associated with 12-month depressive, anxiety and alcohol use disorders and current depressive symptoms and whether inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) level, explains these associations. Method: Health 2000 study (BRIF8901), conducted in years 2000-2001, is based on a nationally representative sample of Finns aged 30 and above, with 7112 participants and 88.6% response rate. DSM-IV depressive, anxiety and alcohol use disorders were assessed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and depressive symptoms with the Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI-21). We used logistic regression to investigate the association of T. gondii seropositivity with mental disorders and linear regression with BDI-21 scores. Results: T. gondii seroprevalence was significantly associated with 12-month generalized anxiety disorder but not with other anxiety, depressive or alcohol use disorders. T. gondii seropositivity was associated with higher BDI-21 scores (beta 0.56, 95% CI 0.12-1.00, P = 0.013) and with having a comorbid depressive and anxiety disorder (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.16-2.97, P = 0.010). Higher CRP levels were associated with these outcomes and with T. gondii seropositivity, but adjusting for CRP did not change the effect of T. gondii seropositivity. Limitations: Cross-sectional study design with no information on the timing of T. gondii infection. Conclusion: T. gondii seropositivity is associated with generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders, which is not mediated by inflammation.

Tagged: adults, aggression, alcohol use disorders, anxiety, anxiety disorders, association, burden, c-reactive protein, depression, depressive disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, health, metaanalysis, mood, Schizophrenia, Toxoplasma gondii

Mental health

Is Toxoplasma gondii infection related to brain and behavior impairments in humans? Evidence from a population-representative birth cohort

May 28, 2016
Sugden, K., Moffitt, T. E., Pinto, L., Poulton, R., Williams, B. S., Caspi, A.
Plos One 2016; 11: ARTN e0148435 10.1371/journal.pone.0148435
Click for abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a protozoan parasite present in around a third of the human population. Infected individuals are commonly asymptomatic, though recent reports have suggested that infection might influence aspects of the host's behavior. In particular, Toxoplasma infection has been linked to schizophrenia, suicide attempt, differences in aspects of personality and poorer neurocognitive performance. However, these studies are often conducted in clinical samples or convenience samples. Methods/Results In a population-representative birth-cohort of individuals tested for presence of antibodies to T. gondii (N = 837) we investigated the association between infection and four facets of human behavior: neuropsychiatric disorder (schizophrenia and major depression), poor impulse control (suicidal behavior and criminality), personality, and neurocognitive performance. Suicide attempt was marginally more frequent among individuals with T. gondii seropositivity (p = .06). Seropositive individuals also performed worse on one out of 14 measures of neuropsychological function. Conclusion On the whole, there was little evidence that T. gondii was related to increased risk of psychiatric disorder, poor impulse control, personality aberrations or neurocognitive impairment.

Tagged: association, depression, Dopamine, health, mood disorders, personality, risk factors, Schizophrenia, seropositivity, suicide

BehaviorCognitive functionsMental health

Interaction between Helicobacter pylori and latent toxoplasmosis and demographic variables on cognitive function in young to middle-aged adults

January 9, 2015
Gale, S. D., Erickson, L. D., Brown, B. L., Hedges, D. W.
Plos One 2015; 10: UNSP e0116874 10.1371/journal.pone.0116874
Click for abstract
Helicobacter pylori and latent toxoplasmosis are widespread diseases that have been associated with cognitive deficits and Alzheimer's disease. We sought to determine whether interactions between Helicobacter pylori and latent toxoplasmosis, age, race-ethnicity, educational attainment, economic status, and general health predict cognitive function in young and middle-aged adults. To do so, we used multivariable regression and multivariate models to analyze data obtained from the United States' National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which can be weighted to represent the US population. In this sample, we found that 31.6 percent of women and 36.2 percent of men of the overall sample had IgG Antibodies against Helicobacter pylori, although the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori varied with sociodemographic variables. There were no main effects for Helicobacter pylori or latent toxoplasmosis for any of the cognitive measures in models adjusting for age, sex, race-ethnicity, educational attainment, economic standing, and self-rated health predicting cognitive function. However, interactions between Helicobacter pylori and race-ethnicity, educational attainment, latent toxoplasmosis in the fully adjusted models predicted cognitive function. People seropositive for both Helicobacter pylori and latent toxoplasmosis - both of which appear to be common in the general population - appear to be more susceptible to cognitive deficits than are people seropositive for either Helicobacter pylori and or latent toxoplasmosis alone, suggesting a synergistic effect between these two infectious diseases on cognition in young to middle-aged adults.

Tagged: alzheimer disease, association, deficiency, gastritis, gondii infection, health, impairment, performance, united-states, us adults

Cognitive functions

Relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and bipolar disorder in a French sample

October 11, 2013 78 Comments
Hamdani, N., Daban-Huard, C., Lajnef, M., Richard, J. R., Delavest, M., Godin, O., Le Guen, E., Vederine, F. E., Lepine, J. P., Jamain, S., Houenou, J., Le Corvoisier, P., Aoki, M., Moins-Teisserenc, H., Charron, D., Krishnamoorthy, R., Yolken, R., Dickerson, F., Tamouza, R., Leboyer, M.
Journal of Affective Disorders 2013; 148: 444-448
Click for abstract
Background: Prenatal exposure to viruses or parasites with tropism for the central nervous system is one of the risk factors for psychotic disorders. However, the relationship between past exposure to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and incidence of bipolar disorders (BD) is poorly documented across populations. Methods: We explored the potential association between T. gondii exposure and BD in France, a country of high prevalence of Toxoplasmosis, comparing the prevalence of serological markers (IgG/IgM class antibodies) for T. gondii infection in 110 BD patients and 106 healthy controls all living in France. In a subgroup of 42 patients and 42 controls we also evaluated the levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) transcripts, an adjunct marker of inflammation. Results: We found that the sero-positive group for IgG antibodies to T. gondii had a 2.7 fold odds of having BD as compared to the sero-negative group (OR = 2.17 CI 95% = 1.09-4.36, p = 0.028). Despite the fact that BD patients had significantly higher levels of IL-6 than the non-patient controls, no notable association between T. gondii status and IL-6 transcript levels was found. We did not find any clinical or demographic correlates of Toxoplasma exposure in the study population. Limitations: Our results are to be interpreted with caution because of our small sample size. Results: We confirm the association between seropositive status to T. gondii and bipolar disorders reported in other populations and extend it to French patients. Our data strengthen the importance of early detection of T. gondii infected patients in order to propose specific and adequate treatments.

Tagged: antibodies, bipolar disorder, Epidemiology, health, il-6, neuro-immunology, pathophysiology, pregnant women, prevalence, Schizophrenia, seropositivity, Toxoplasma gondii

Mental health

Topics

  • Behavior 105
  • Cognitive functions 64
  • Mental health 439
  • Morphology 6
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  • Personality 36
  • Physical health 134
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  • Sensory functions 3
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Recent articles

  • Mortality Patterns of Toxoplasmosis and Its Comorbidities in Tanzania: A 10-Year Retrospective Hospital-Based Survey February 6, 2020
  • The role of latent toxoplasmosis in the aetiopathogenesis of schizophrenia–the risk factor or an indication of a contact with cat? February 6, 2020
  • The Association between Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis February 6, 2020

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