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Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Compendium of Known Effects and Ongoing Research

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Toxoplasma oocysts as a public health problem

October 9, 2013
Torrey, E.F., Yolken, R.H.
Trends in Parasitology 2013; 29: 380-384
Click for abstract
Waterborne outbreaks of Toxoplasma gondii have focused attention on the importance of oocysts shed in the feces of infected cats. Cat feces deposited annually into the environment in the United States total approximately 1.2 million metric tons. The annual oocyst burden measured in community surveys is 3 to 434 oocysts per square foot and is greater in areas where cats selectively defecate. Because a single oocyst can possibly cause infection, this oocyst burden represents a major potential public health problem. The proper disposal of cat litter, keeping cats indoors, reducing the feral cat population, and protecting the play areas of children might potentially reduce the oocyst burden.

Tagged: cats, contamination, experimental transmission, gondii infection, oocysts, prevalence, prevention, risk factors, soil, survival, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, united-states, water

Mental healthPhysical healthReviews

Possible role of toxoplasmosis in patients with first-episode schizophrenia

October 19, 2010
Tanyuksel, M., Uzun, O., Araz, E., Koru, O., Babur, C.
Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2010; 40: 399-404
Click for abstract
Aim: To determine the possible relationship between toxoplasmosis and patients with first-episode schizophrenia (FES) Materials and methods: Seventy-three subjects with FES (15-54 years old; mean. 23.4 years) and 40 healthy individuals (20-54 years old, mean: 30.3 years) were enrolled in the study Most of the FES patients (90.4%) and the control individuals (95 0%) were male Specific IgG and IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the total amount of antibodies was investigated with the Sabin-Feldman dye test (SFDT) Results: Compared to the control individuals, study subjects had significantly more toxoplasmosis-like symptoms and more cats in the household; they were less likely to live in apartments and more likely to live in ground-floor houses They did consume more uncooked meat, unpasteurized goat's milk, and chicken eggs; had more contact with soil; and were living less often in urban areas and more often in rural areas. Serum samples from 32 (43 8%) and 25 (34.2%) of 73 patients with FES were seropositive for T gondii when tested by ELISA IgG and SFDT, respectively Out of 40 serum samples from control subjects, 13 (32 5%) and 15 (37.5%) were found positive for T gondii by ELISA IgG and SFDT, respectively In patients with FES, 17 (68%) out of 25 who were SFDT-positive were also positive by ELISA IgG test, while 15 out of 48 (31 3%) SFDT-negative serums were positive by ELISA IgG In the control group, 11 out of 15 SFDT-positive serum samples (73 3%) were also positive by ELISA IgG test, while 2 out of 25 SFDT-negative serum samples were positive by ELISA IgG Conclusion: The present study shows that toxoplasmosis might be associated with first-episode schizophrenia. More studies are needed to prove the association between T gondii infection and patients suffering from schizophrenia

Tagged: antibodies, antibody, area, assay, cat, cats, chicken, contact, control, egg, eggs, elisae, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Fe, gondii, gondii infection, group, house, igg, igm, IgM antibodies, individual, individuals, infection, Ireland, male, meat, method, methods, milk, old, patient, patients, positive, psychosis, relationship, Sabin Feldman dye test sample, samples, Schizophrenia, sera, serum, serum sample, soil, symptoms, t test, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, year

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Recent articles

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  • 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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