toxoplasmosis/*complications

Is chronic toxoplasmosis a risk factor for diabetes mellitus? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies

October 6, 2016
Majidiani, H., Datuand, S., Daryani, A., Galuan-Ramirez, M. D., Foroutan-Rad, M.
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases 2016; 20: 605-609.

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INTRODUCTION: The global protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, infects many warm-blooded animals and humans by employing different transmission routes. There have been some recent studies on the probable relevance of infectious agents and diabetes. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the possible association between chronic toxoplasmosis and diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This study was conducted following the general methodology recommended for systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Nine English literature databases (Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, Science Direct, Ovid, ProQuest, IngentaConnect, and Wiley Online Library) were searched, up to January 2016. Random effects model was used to determine odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Our review resulted in a total of seven publications meeting the inclusion criteria. Because of significant heterogeneity, we estimated a common OR by a random effects model at 1.10 (95% CI=0.13-9.57) with p=0.929 and 2.39 (95% CI=1.20-4.75) with p=0.013 for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the limitations such as low number of studies, this meta-analysis suggests chronic toxoplasmosis as a possible risk factor for type 2 DM. However, based on random effects model no statistically significant association was observed between T. gondii and type 1 DM. It is highly recommended for researchers to carry out more accurate studies aiming to better understand this association.

Tagged: case-control studies, chronic disease, diabetes mellitus/*parasitology, humans, risk factors, toxoplasmosis/*complications

Physical health Reviews

Does Toxoplasma gondii infection affect cognitive function? A case control study

October 16, 2012
Guenter, W., Bielinski, M., Deptula, A., Zalas-Wiecek, P., Piskunowicz, M., Szwed, K., Bucinski, A., Gospodarek, E., Borkowska, A.
Folia Parasitologica 2012; 59: 93-98.

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According to studies, latent Toxoplasma gondii infection may affect several functions of the human brain. Here we search for the association between latent toxoplasmosis and cognitive performance. We tested 70 individuals for latent T. gondii infection. There were 26 Toxoplasma-infected subjects and 44 Toxoplasma-free subjects. Within these two groups we assessed cognitive performance using a set of standardized, widely recognized neuropsychological tests: Trail Making Test, Stroop Test, Verbal Fluency Test, Digit Span Test and N-back test. The relationship between chronic toxoplasmosis and cognitive performance was assessed, with adjustment for age and sex. Patients with latent toxoplasmosis performed worse on one neuropsychological test, N-back Test--percentage of correct answers (beta -8.08; 95% CI - 15.64 to -0.53; p < 0.05) compared to seronegative patients. However, after adjustment for age and sex, no statistically significant associations between latent toxoplasmosis and the scores on any cognitive tests were noticed. As statistically significant relationship was not observed, this study does not confirm that chronic latent T. gondii infection affects cognition.

Tagged: adult, antibodies, case-control studies, chronic disease, cognition disorders/*parasitology, female, humans, immunoglobulin G/blood, male, middle aged *Toxoplasma, protozoan/blood, toxoplasmosis/*complications, young adult

Cognitive functions

Toxoplasmosis, behaviour and personality

November 7, 1997
Holliman, R. E.
Journal of Infection 1997; 35: 105-110

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The clinical sequelae of acute and congenital toxoplasmosis are well established, but that of chronic toxoplasma infection remains uncertain. In rodents, chronic toxoplasma infection is associated with altered behaviour leading to an enhanced risk of feline predation and a putative selective advantage to the parasite. It is proposed that neurotropic cysts of toxoplasma exert an effect on animal behaviour, either directly or via the release of metabolic products. Long-standing toxoplasma infection in humans has been linked to cerebral tumour formation and personality shift. In view of the vast population with chronic toxoplasma infection, further studies of the clinical sequelae of this condition are required.

Tagged: *disease vectors, *life cycle stages, animal, animal/*complications toxoplasmosis, animals, behavior, behavioral symptoms/*parasitology, cats, chronic disease, congenital/transmission, female, humans, mice, personality disorders/*parasitology, pregnancy, rats Toxoplasma/*growth & development, toxoplasmosis, toxoplasmosis/*complications

Behavior Personality Reviews

Headache and painful lymphadenopathy in extracranial or systemic infection- etiology of new daily persistant headaches

November 7, 1993
Santoni JR, Santoniwilliams CJ
Internal Medicine 1993; 32: 530-532

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From 108 cases of new daily persistent headaches, clinical or laboratory evidence was found suggesting extracranial or systemic infections in: 28 cases (25.9%) of gastrointestinal mainly Salmonella, 28 (25.9%) urinary Coli, 16 (14.8%) Streptococcal, 4 (3.7%) each of Epstein Barr virus or Toxoplasma, and 1 (0.9%) each of Herpes Zoster or pneumonia. A group of 26 (24.1%) showed high Proteus OX titer or clinical adenoviral involvement. All had normal neurological examinations plus selective negative neuroimaging or spinal taps. The mean headache duration was 13.8 days, and mean age 28.8 years. Prominent symptoms were fever in 37 (34.2%) cases, nausea/vomiting in 30 (27%) and vertigo in 17 (15.7%). Diarrhea, dysuria, and abdominal discomfort were rare. Headache was a solitary symptom in 36 (33.3%). The predominant sign was painful cervical lymphadenopathy in 61 (56.5%). These cases represent 1.2% of our 9060 neurology patients.

Tagged: adolescent, adult, aged, bacterial Infections/complications, child, continental population groups, Dominican Republic/epidemiology, female, fever/etiology, gastrointestinal diseases/complications/microbiology, headache/epidemiology/*etiology/microbiology/parasitology, humans, infection/*complications, lymphatic diseases/epidemiology/*etiology/microbiology/parasitology, male, middle aged, neck, occupations, preschool, recurrence, tonsillitis/complications/microbiology, toxoplasmosis/*complications, urinary tract infections/complications, virus diseases/complications

Physical health

Toxoplasma seropositivity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

November 8, 1988
Mousa, M. A., Soliman, H. E., el Shafie, M. S., Abdel-Baky, M. S., Aly, M. M.
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology 1988; 18: 345-351

Tagged: 80 and over, adolescent, adult, aged, animals, antibodies, arthritis, humans, middle aged, protozoan/analysis, rheumatoid/*complications, Toxoplasma/*immunology, toxoplasmosis/*complications

Physical health

Toxoplasma, Toxocara, and epilepsy

November 8, 1982
Critchley, E. M., Vakil, S. D., Hutchinson, D. N., Taylor, P.
Epilepsia 1982; 23: 315-321

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The presence of positive antibody titres to Toxoplasma and Toxocara in an adult epileptic population has been examined in relation to other observations of aetiological importance. With Toxoplasma, and more particularly with Toxocara, a higher incidence of positive antibody titres was recorded than in nonepileptic populations. Comparison with previous studies in childhood epilepsy indicate that the incidence of positive titres increased with age throughout adult life. Despite attention to the age of onset of epilepsy, presumed aetiological factors, and electroencephalographic and clinical observations, no causal relationship between parasitic infection and the aetiology of epilepsy was established.