adults

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

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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

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

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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

Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and cognitive functions in school-aged children

October 6, 2015
Mendy, A., Vieira, E. R., Albatineh, A. N., Gasana, J.
Parasitology 2015; 142: 1221-1227

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Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infects one-third of the world population, but its association with cognitive functions in school-aged children is unclear. We examined the relationship between Toxoplasma seropositivity and neuropsychological tests scores (including math, reading, visuospatial reasoning and verbal memory) in 1755 school-aged children 12-16 years old who participated to the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, using multiple linear regressions adjusted for covariates. Toxoplasma seroprevalence was 7.7% and seropositivity to the parasite was associated with lower reading skills (regression coefficient [beta] = -5.86, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -11.11, -0.61, P = 0.029) and memory capacities (beta = -0.86, 95% CI: -1.58, -0.15, P = 0.017). The interaction between T. gondii seropositivity and vitamin E significantly correlated with memory scores. In subgroup analysis, Toxoplasma-associated memory impairment was worse in children with lower serum vitamin E concentrations (beta = -1.61, 95% CI: -2.44, -0.77, P < 0.001) than in those with higher values (beta = -0.12, 95% CI: -1.23, 0.99, P = 0.83). In conclusion, Toxoplasma seropositivity may be associated with reading and memory impairments in school-aged children. Serum vitamin E seems to modify the relationship between the parasitic infection and memory deficiency.

Tagged: adults, association, behavior, cognition, cognitive function, disease, Dopamine, gene-expression, infection, intelligence, math, memory, mice, parasites, performance, reading, school-aged children, Toxoplasma gondii, vitamin e, vitamins

Cognitive functions

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with hand, foot and mouth disease in Henan, China: a hospital-based study

October 6, 2015
Wang, S., Lan, C. W., Zhang, L. W., Zhang, H. Z., Yao, Z. J., Wang, D., Ma, J. B., Deng, J. R., Liu, S. G.
Infectious Diseases of Poverty 2015; 4.

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Background: The prevalence of infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in humans has been increasing in China due to the growing number of cats in the country. Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a serious public health issue in China and still one of the leading causes of child mortality. However, little is known about the epidemiology of T. gondii infection among HFMD patients. Methods: A case-control study of 281 HFMD patients from the First People's Hospital of Pingdingshan in Pingdingshan city, Henan province, central China, and 222 controls from Pingdingshan city was conducted. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were serologically detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: We found that the overall anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody prevalence among HFMD patients was 12.46 %, which was significantly higher than that in clinically healthy children (1.80 %). The highest T. gondii seroprevalence was detected in critical cases (22.58 %), followed by severe cases (11.50 %), and the lowest was detected in mild cases (8.33 %). Conclusion: The present study is the first survey of T. gondii seroprevalence among HFMD patients in China; 12.46 % were defined as seropositive. It is imperative that improved integrated measures are taken to prevent and control T. gondii infection among HFMD patients.

Tagged: adults, cancer-patients, children, china, coxsackievirus a6, enterovirus, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, hand foot and mouth disease, mice, province, risk factors, seroprevalence, shandong, strains, Toxoplasma gondii

Physical health

Toxoplasma infection in systemic lupus erythematosus mimicking lupus cerebritis

January 4, 1999
Zamir, D., Amar, M., Groisman, G., Weiner, P.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings 1999; 74:575-578

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An opportunistic infection is a known, although underdiagnosed, complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A 48-year-old woman with a recent diagnosis of SLE was admitted to the hospital because of a fever, confused state, and convulsive episode. Her symptoms were interpreted as being compatible with lupus cerebritis. Treatment with methylprednisolone resulted in a temporary improvement in the patient's condition. Nevertheless, during the next few weeks, her physical and mental condition deteriorated, and she died of massive pulmonary emboli, An autopsy revealed no signs of lupus cerebritis; however, disseminated cerebral toxoplasmosis was found. Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a rare complication of SLE that may be misdiagnosed as lupus cerebritis.

Tagged: adults, c-reactive protein, central-nervous-system, diagnosis, meningitis

Physical health

Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Compendium of Known Effects and Ongoing Research

adults

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

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

Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and cognitive functions in school-aged children

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients with hand, foot and mouth disease in Henan, China: a hospital-based study

Toxoplasma infection in systemic lupus erythematosus mimicking lupus cerebritis