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Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Compendium of Known Effects and Ongoing Research

antibodies

Selected infectious agents and risk of schizophrenia among US military personnel

October 26, 2008
Nielbuhr, D.W., Millikan, A. M., Cowan, D. N., Yolken, R., Li, Y. Z., Weber, N. S.
American Journal of Psychiatry 2008; 165: 99-106
Click for abstract
Objective: A number of studies have reported associations between Toxoplasma gondii (T gondii) infection and the risk of schizophrenia. Most existing studies have used small populations and postdiagnosis specimens. As part of a larger research program, the authors conducted a hypothesis-generating case control study of T. gondii antibodies among individuals discharged from the U.S. military with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and serum specimens available from both before and after diagnosis. Method: The patients (N=180) were military members who had been hospitalized and discharged from military service with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Healthy comparison subjects (3:1 matched on several factors) were members of the military who were not discharged. The U.S. military routinely collects and stores serum specimens of military service members. The authors used microplate-enzyme immunoassay to measure immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels to T gondii, six herpes viruses, and influenza A and B viruses and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody levels to T. gondii in pre- and postdiagnosis serum specimens. Results: A significant positive association between the T gondii IgG antibody and schizophrenia was found; the overall hazard ratio was 1.24. The association between IgG and schizophrenia varied by the time between the serum specimen collection and onset of illness. Conclusion: The authors found significant associations between increased levels of scaled T gondii IgG antibodies and schizophrenia for antibodies measured both prior to and after diagnosis.

Tagged: antibodies, association, bipolar disorder, brain, exposure, host, individuals, mice, rats, toxoplasma gondii infection

Mental health

The schizophrenia and Toxoplasma gondii connection: Infectious, immune or both?

October 26, 2008
Tamer, G. S., Dundar, D., Yalug, I., Caliskan, S., Yazar, S., Aker, A.
Advances in Therapy 2008; 25: 703-709
Click for abstract
Introduction: Recent research has suggested a possible link between toxoplasmic agents and schizophrenia. We aimed to assess this by measuring Toxoplasma gondii-associated antibodies in schizophrenia patients and controls. Methods: We used a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to measure the level of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies in serum samples from schizophrenia patients (n= 40) and from a group of non-schizophrenic control subjects (n= 37). Results: Among schizophrenic patients, 16 (40%) showed IgG seropositivity and two (5%) showed IgM seropositivity. Among the control group, five (13.5%) were found have IgG seropositivity and one (2.7%) showed IgM seropositivity. In our study we found that IgG T gondii antibodies were significantly higher in schizophrenia patients compared with controls. Conclusion: This study supports the theory that toxoplasmic agents may have a role in the aetiology of schizophrenia.

Tagged: agents, antibodies, enzyme immunoassay, exposure, individuals, personality, psychosis, risk, Schizophrenia, Toxoplasma gondii

Mental health

Toxoplasma gondii as a risk factor for early-onset schizophrenia: Analysis of filter paper blood samples obtained at birth

October 27, 2007
Bo Mortensen P, Norgaard-Pedersen, B Waltoft, B.L., Sorensen, T.L., Hougaard, D., Torrey, E. E., Yolken, R.H.
Biological Psychiatry 2007; 61: 688-693.
Click for abstract
Background: Infections during fetal life or neonatal period, including infections with Toxoplasma gondii, may be associated with a risk for schizophrenia and other mental disorders. The objectives of this study were to study the association between serological markers for maternal and neonatal infection and the risk for schizophrenia, related psychoses, and affective disorders in a national cohort of newborns. Methods: This study was a cohort-based, case-control study combining data from national population registers and patient registers and a national neonatal screening biobank in Denmark. Patients included persons born in Denmark in 1981 or later followed up through 1999 with respect to inpatient or outpatient treatment for schizophrenia or related disorders (ICD-10 F2) or affective disorders (ICD-10 F3). Results: Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels corresponding to the upper quartile among control subjects were significantly associated with schizophrenia risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.79, p =.045) after adjustment for urbanicity of place of birth, year of birth, gender, and psychiatric diagnoses among first-degree relatives. There was no significant association between any marker of infection and other schizophrenia-like disorders or affective disorders. Conclusions: Our study supports an association between Toxoplasma gondii and early-onset schizophrenia. Further studies are needed to establish if the association is causal and if it generalizes to cases with onset after age 18.

Tagged: adult schizophrenia, affective disorder, antibodies, family-history, individuals, infections, maternal exposure, neonatal, prenatal influenza, psychosis, register, Schizophrenia, Toxoplasma gondii, viral encephalitis

Mental health

A controlled prospective study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in individuals with schizophrenia: Beyond seroprevalence

October 27, 2007
Hinze-Selch, D., Daubener, W., Eggert, L., Erdag, S., Stoltenberg, R., Wilms, S.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2007; 33: 782-788.
Click for abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (TG) infection has been reported to be more frequent in schizophrenia. The interaction of the lifelong persisting parasite with the host's immune system involves T-cell/interferon-gamma-induced degradation of tryptophan and provides a challenge to the host well beyond a possible role in the etiology of schizophrenia. The hypothesis we tested in this study was that TG infection may be more frequent (serofrequency) and/or more intense (serointensity) in patients with schizophrenia or major depression compared with psychiatrically healthy controls. In addition, these measures are associated with the clinical course. We did a cross-sectional, prospective investigation of individuals with schizophrenia (n = 277) and major depression (n = 465) admitted to our department (2002-2005) and of healthy controls (n = 214), with all groups adjusted for age and geographic home region. Serofrequency was comparable between the groups, but serointensity was significantly higher in the patients. In individuals with schizophrenia, serointensity was significantly positively associated with C-reactive protein levels and leukocyte counts, and first-episode patients yielded significantly higher serotiters. Immunomodulatory medication was associated with decreased serotiters. In addition, the route of infection appears to differ between patients and controls. Thus, our results support increased host responses to TG infection in the patients, as well as increased titers in first-episode patients with schizophrenia; this may relate to the shifted T-helper 1/2 status described in these patients. Therefore, we suggest that TG infection, particularly in individuals with schizophrenia, is an important environmental factor in the interaction between psychiatric vulnerability, genetic background, immunomodulation, and the neurotransmitter systems.

Tagged: 2, 3-dioxygenase, activation, antibodies, astrocytes, cells, depression, frontal-cortex, immune, immunity, infection, nitric-oxide synthase, psychosis, Toxoplasma gondii, tryptophan, tryptophan depletion

Mental health

Epidemiological evidences from China assume that psychiatric-related diseases may be associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection

January 4, 2007
Zhu, S., Guo, M. F., Feng, Q. C., Fan, J. M.,
Neuroendocrinology Letters, 2007, 28: 115-120
Click for abstract
In recent years, the effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection on psychiatric-related aspects has been increasingly recognized. T gondii has a high affinity for brain tissue where tachyzoites may form tissue cysts and persist life long. In recent years, 15 serological surveys about T gondii infection and psychiatric diseases have been carried out in different areas in China. Studies showed that the prevalence of antibodies against T gondii in psychotic patients was much higher than in normal persons; statistically differences were significant. Studies also reported that raising cats or enjoying the habit of eating raw or under cooked meet were potential risk factors for the infection of T gondii. The epidemiological and serological evidence support the hypothesis that some psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia or mental retardation might be linked to T gondii infection.

Tagged: 1st-episode schizophrenia, antibodies, behavior, cats, host, novelty seeking, parasites, personality changes, psychiatric-related disease, rattus-norvegicus, toxoplasmosis

Mental health

Can the common brain parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, influence human culture?

October 30, 2006
Lafferty, K.D.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 2006; 273: 2749-2755.
Click for abstract
The latent prevalence of a long-lived and common brain parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, explains a statistically significant portion of the variance in aggregate neuroticisin among populations, as well as in the 'neurotic' cultural dimensions of sex roles and uncertainty avoidance. Spurious or non-causal correlations between aggregate personality and aspects of climate and culture that influence T gondii transmission could also drive these patterns. A link between culture and T gondii hypothetically results from a behavioural manipulation that the parasite uses to increase its transmission to the next host in the life cycle: a cat. While latent toxoplasmosis is usually benign, the parasite's subtle effect on individual personality appears to alter the aggregate personality at the population level. Drivers of the geographical variation in the prevalence of this parasite include the effects of climate on the persistence of infectious stages in soil, the cultural practices of food preparation and cats as pets. Some variation in culture, therefore, may ultimately be related to how climate affects the distribution of T gondii, though the results only explain a fraction of the variation in two of the four cultural dimensions, suggesting that if T gondii does influence human culture, it is only one among many factors.

Tagged: antibodies, decreased level, Dopamine, infection, masculinity, nations, neuroticism, novelty seeking, personality, personality changes, population, pregnant women, prevalence, risk factors, uncertainty avoidance

BehaviorPersonality

Parasites as causative agents of human affective disorders? The impact of anti-psychotic, mood-stabilizer and anti-parasite medication on Toxoplasma gondii ‘s ability to alter host behaviour

October 30, 2006
Webster, J.P., Lamberton, P.H.L., Donnelly, C.A., Torrey, E.F.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences 2006; 273: 1023-1030
Click for abstract
With increasing pressure to understand transmissible agents, renewed recognition of infectious causation of both acute and chronic diseases is occurring. Epidemiological and neuropathological studies indicate that some cases of schizophrenia may be associated with environmental factors, such as exposure to the ubiquitous protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Reasons for this include T gondii's ability to establish persistent infection within the central nervous system, its ability to manipulate intermediate host behaviour, the occurrence of neurological and psychiatric symptoms in some infected individuals, and an association between infection with increased incidence of schizophrenia. Moreover, several of the medications used to treat schizophrenia and other psychiatric disease have recently been demonstrated in vitro to possess antiparasitic, and in particular anti-T gondii, properties. Our aim here was thus to test the hypothesis that the anti-psychotic and mood stabilizing activity of some medications may be achieved, or at least augmented, through their in vivo inhibition of T gondii replication and invasion in infected individuals. In particular we predicted, using the epidemiologically and clinically applicable rat-T gondii model system, and following a previously described and neurologically characterized 'feline attraction' protocol that haloperidol (an antipsychotic used in the treatment of mental illnesses including schizophrenia) and/or valproic acid (a mood stabilizer used in the treatment of mental illnesses including schizophrenia), would be, at least, as effective in preventing the development of T gondii-associated behavioural and cognitive alterations as the standard anti-T gondii chemotherapeutics pyrimethamine with Dapsone. We demonstrate that, while T gondii appears to alter the rats' perception of predation risk turning their innate aversion into a 'suicidal' feline attraction, anti-psychotic drugs prove as efficient as anti-T gondii drugs in preventing such behavioural alterations. Our results have important implications regarding the aetiology and treatment of such disorders.

Tagged: acquired toxoplasmosis, antibodies, brain, cat odor, dapsone, Dopamine, infection, medication, parasite-altered behaviour, pyrimethamine, rattus-norvegicus, Schizophrenia, Toxoplasma gondii

BehaviorMental health

Maternal exposure to toxoplasmosis and risk of schizophrenia in adult offspring

October 30, 2005
Brown, A. S., Schaefer, C. A., Quesenberry, C. P., Liu, L. Y., Babulas, V. P., Susser, E. S.
American Journal of Psychiatry 2005; 162: 767-773
Click for abstract
Objective: The authors examined the relationship between maternal antibody to toxoplasmosis and the risk of schizophrenia and other schizophrenia spectrum disorders in offspring. Toxoplasmosis is known to adversely affect fetal brain development. Method: In a nested case-control design of a large birth cohort born between 1959 and 1967, the authors conducted serological assays for Toxoplasma antibody on maternal serum specimens from pregnancies giving rise to 63 cases of schizophrenia and other schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 123 matched comparison subjects. Toxoplasma immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody was quantified by using the Sabin-Feldman dye test. The Ig titers were classified into three groups: negative (< 1: 16) reference), moderate ( 1: 16 - 1: 64), and high (>= 1: 128). Results: The adjusted odds ratio of schizophrenia/schizophrenia spectrum disorders for subjects with high maternal Toxoplasma IgG antibody titers was 2.61 ( 95% confidence interval = 1.00 - 6.82). There was no association between moderate Toxoplasma Ig antibody titers and the risk of schizophrenia/spectrum disorders. Conclusions: These findings suggest that maternal exposure to toxoplasmosis may be a risk factor for schizophrenia. The findings may be explained by reactivated infection or an effect of the antibody on the developing fetus. Given that toxoplasmosis is a preventable infection, the findings, if replicated, may have implications for reducing the incidence of schizophrenia.

Tagged: antibodies, diagnosis, etiology, gondii infection, maternal exposure, shizophrenia

Mental health

Incidence of toxoplasmosis in patients with cirrhosis

October 30, 2004
Ustun, S., Aksoy, U., Dagci, H., Ersoz, G.
World Journal of Gastroenterology 2004; 10: 452-454.
Click for abstract
AIM: It is known that toxoplasmosis rarely leads to various liver pathologies, most common of which is granulomatose hepatitis in patients having normal immune systems. Patients who have cirrhosis of the liver are subject to a variety of cellular as well as humoral immunity disorders. Therefore, it may be considered that toxoplasmosis can cause more frequent and more severe diseases in patients with cirrhosis and is capable of changing the course of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of toxoplasmosis in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Serum samples were taken from 108 patients with cirrhosis under observation in the Hepatology Polyclinic of the Gastroenterology Clinic, and a control group made up of 50 healthy blood donors. IFAT and ELISA methods were used to investigate the IgG and IgM antibodies, which had developed from these sera. RESULTS: Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibody positivity was found in 74 (68.5%) of the 108 cirrhotic patients and 24 (48%) of the 50 people in the control group. The difference between them was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, it was found that the toxoplasma sero-prevalence in the cirrhotic patients in this study was higher. Cirrhotic patients are likely to form a toxoplasma risk group. More detailed studies are needed on this subject.

Tagged: adult, animals, antibodies, female, humans, incidence, male, middle aged, protozoan/analysis, Toxoplama, toxoplasmosis/comlications/immunology

Physical health

Antibodies to infectious agents in individuals with recent onset schizophrenia

March 26, 2004
Leweke, F. M., Gerth, C. W., Koethe, D., Klosterkotter, J., Ruslanova, I., Krivogorsky, B., Torrey, E. F., Yolken, R. H.
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience 2004; 254: 4-8
Click for abstract
We investigated the levels of antibodies to infectious agents in the serum and cerebral spinal fluids (CSFs) of individuals with recent onset schizophrenia and compared these levels to those of controls without psychiatric disease. We found that untreated individuals with recent onset schizophrenia had significantly increased levels of serum and CSF IgG antibody to cytomegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii as compared to controls. The levels of serum IgM class antibodies to these agents were not increased. Untreated individuals with recent onset schizophrenia also had significantly lower levels of serum antibody to human herpesvirus type 6 and varicella zoster virus as compared to controls. Levels of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, and Epstein Barr virus, and did not differ from cases and controls. We also found that treatment status had a major effect on the levels of antibodies in this population. Individuals who were receiving treatment had lower levels of antibodies to cytornegalovirus and Toxoplasma gondii, and higher levels of serum antibodies to human herpesvirus type 6 as compared to untreated individuals. The level of antibodies to Toxoplasma and human herpesvirus type 6 measured in treated individuals did not differ from the levels measured in controls. In the case of cytomegalovirus, the levels of CSF antibodies in treated individuals did not differ from those of controls, while the level of serum IgG antibodies to CMV remained slightly greater than controls in this population. Our studies indicate that untreated individuals with recent onset schizophrenia have altered levels of antibodies to cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasma gondii, and human herpesvirus type 6 while the levels of these antibodies in treated individuals with recent onset schizophrenia are similar to those of controls. These findings indicate that infectious agents may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of some cases of schizophrenia.

Tagged: antibodies, bipolar disorder, cytomegalovirus, encephalitis, gene polymorphism, herpes-simplex-virus, herpesviruses, necrosis-factor-alpha, psychiatric patients, psychosis, Schizophrenia, serum, Toxoplasma gondii

Mental health

Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia

October 30, 2003
Torrey EF, Yolken RH.
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2003; 9: 1375-1380.
Click for abstract
Recent epidemiologic studies indicate that infectious agents may contribute to some cases of schizophrenia. In animals, infection with Toxoplasma gondii can alter behavior and neurotransmitter function. In humans, acute infection with T gondii can produce psychotic symptoms similar to those displayed by persons with schizophrenia. Since 1953, a total of 19 studies of T gondii antibodies in persons with schizophrenia and other severe psychiatric disorders and in controls have been reported; 18 reported a higher percentage of antibodies in the affected persons; in 11 studies the difference was statistically significant. Two other studies found that exposure to cats in childhood was a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia. Some medications used to treat schizophrenia inhibit the replication of T gondii in cell culture. Establishing the role of T gondii in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia might lead to new medications for its prevention and treatment.

Tagged: antibodies, astrocytes, bipolar disorder, frontal-cortex, individuals, infection, Ireland, neospora-caninum, onset schizophrenia, psychoses

Mental health

Investigation of probable relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and cryptogenic epilepsy

October 30, 2003
Yazar S, et al
Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy 2003; 12: 107-109.
Click for abstract
PURPOSE: Cryptogenic epilepsy, defines a group of epilepsy syndromes for which an aetiology is unknown but an underlying brain disease is suspected. We selected patients in this subgroup of epilepsy and investigated the sero-positivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). We investigated the probable relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and cryptogenic epilepsy. METHODS: We selected 50 patients with cryptogenic epilepsy, 50 patients with known cause epilepsy and 50 healthy volunteers and investigated the sero-positivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by ELISA. RESULTS: The sero-positivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies among cryptogenic epilepsy patients (52%) was found to be higher than healthy volunteers (18%) and known cause epilepsy patients (22%) with statistical significance, (X(2)=18.095, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: There might be a causal relationship between chronic toxoplasmosis and the aetiology of cryptogenic epilepsy

Tagged: animals, antibodies, cerebral/*parasitology, chronic disease, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, epilepsy/blood/*parasitology, humans, immunoglobulin G/analysis, protozoan/analysis, Toxoplasma/immunology/isolation & purification, toxoplasmosis

Physical health

Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia

January 10, 2003
Torrey, E. F., Yolken, R. H.
Emerg Infect Dis 2003; 9: 1375-1380
Click for abstract
Recent epidemiologic studies indicate that infectious agents may contribute to some cases of schizophrenia. In animals, infections with Toxoplasma gondii can alter behavior and neurotransmitter function. In humans, acute infection with T. gondii can produce psychotic symptoms similar to those displayed by persons with schizophrenia. Since 1953, a total of 19 studies of T. gondii antibodies in persons with schizophrenia and other severe psychiatric disorders and in controls have been reported; 18 reported a higher percentage of antibodies in the affected persons; in 11 studies the difference was statistically significant. Two other studies found that exposure to cats in childhood was a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia. Some medications used to treat schizophrenia inhibit the replication of T. gondii in cell culture. Establishing the role of T. gondii in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia might lead to new medications for its prevention and treatment.

Tagged: adult, animals, antibodies, Brain/pathology, child, Epidemiologic Methods, female, humans, male, middle aged, protozoan/blood, Schizophrenia/blood/*etiology/parasitology, Toxoplasma/*immunology/pathogenicity, Toxoplasmosis/*complications/epidemiology/transmission

Mental health

Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia

January 4, 2003
Torrey, E. F., Yolken, R. H.
Emerging Infectious Diseases 2003; 9: 1375-1380
Click for abstract
Recent epidemiologic studies indicate that infectious agents may contribute to some cases of schizophrenia. In animals, infection with Toxoplasma gondii can alter behavior and neurotransmitter function. In humans, acute infection with T gondii can produce psychotic symptoms similar to those displayed by persons with schizophrenia. Since 1953, a total of 19 studies of T gondii antibodies in persons with schizophrenia and other severe psychiatric disorders and in controls have been reported; 18 reported a higher percentage of antibodies in the affected persons; in 11 studies the difference was statistically significant. Two other studies found that exposure to cats in childhood was a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia. Some medications used to treat schizophrenia inhibit the replication of T gondii in cell culture. Establishing the role of T gondii in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia might lead to new medications for its prevention and treatment.

Tagged: antibodies, astrocytes, bipolar disorder, frontal-cortex, individuals, infection, Ireland, neospora-caninum, onset schizophrenia, psychoses

Mental health

The schizophrenia-rheumatoid arthritis connection: Infectious, immune, or both?

November 7, 2001
Torrey, E. F. , Yolken, R. H.
Brain Behavior and Immunity 2001; 15: 401-410
Click for abstract
Schizophrenia and rheumatoid arthritis share an impressive number of similarities. Both are chronic, relapsing diseases of unknown etiology. Both became prominent in the early 19th century and have prevalences of approximately 1% in North America and Europe. Both run in families, have pairwise concordance rates of approximately 30% among monozygotic twins, and are more common among individuals born in urban areas. For both diseases, studies have reported greater exposure to cats in childhood than in controls. Both diseases have been associated with similar class II HLA antigens. Both have also been suspected of having infectious etiology, with similar agents-retroviruses, herpesviruses including EBV, and Toxoplasma gondii-having been associated in some cases. Since there is also a well-documented inverse correlation between these two diseases, it is possible that they share a common infectious and/or immune etiology and that once a person gets one of the diseases then they are relatively immune to the other. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science.

Tagged: 2 parts, antibodies, association, autoimmune diseases, bipolar disorder, cytokine, family-history, hla, hla system, infectious, rheumatoid epidemiology, risk, Schizophrenia, susceptibility

BehaviorReviews

Toxoplasmosis as a cause of repeated abortion

October 29, 1995
Sahwi, S. Y., Zaki, M. S., Haiba, N. Y., Elsaid, O. K., Anwar, M. Y., AbdRabbo, S. A.
Asia-Oceania Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 1995; 21: 145-148
Click for abstract
The extent to which toxoplasmosis causes habitual abortion is still controversial. The present study was carried out on 100 cases of repeated abortions, and 40 multiparous pregnant women at 20th week gestation as a control. Tests for the presence of toxoplasma IgG and/or IgM antibodies were done for both groups. It was found that 19% of the selected cases, and 7.5% of the control were seropositive for IgM. The difference was statistically insignificant, therefore acute toxoplasmosis, most probably, is not related to habitual abortions, whereas 37% of the selected cases and only 10% of the control group were seropositive at high dilution for IgG antibody, this statistical significant difference indicates that chronic toxoplasmosis, most probably is a significant cause of repeated abortion. Also it has been found that toxoplasmosis has a significant relation to abortion at first trimester.

Tagged: abortion, adult, animals, antibodies, female, Habitual/*parasitology, humans, immunoglobulin G/blood, Immunoglobulin M/blood, pregnancy, protozoan/blood, Toxoplasma/immunology, Toxoplasmosis/*complications/diagnosis

Physical healthReproduction

Onset of ocular complications in congenital toxoplasmosis associated with immunoglobulin M antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii

October 30, 1990
Sibalic, D., Djurkovic-Djakovic, O., Bobic, B.
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology &Infectious Diseases 1990; 9: 671-674
Click for abstract
Four patients with congenital toxoplasmosis serologically diagnosed by the Sabin-Feldman test (SFT) and the IgM-indirect fluorescent antibody test (IgM-IFAT) in the first year of life presented with eye disease between the age of 21 months and ten years. Repeated serological testing revealed increasing levels of specific antibodies as measured by the SFT. IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were detected in all four patients by the immunosorbent agglutination assay, in two by the IgM-IFAT and in three by the IgM-indirect haemagglutination test. Findings suggest that specific IgM antibodies reappear at the time of reactivation of congenital toxoplasmosis later in life, or possibly persist for an extraordinary long period (up to ten years)

Tagged: age factors, animals, antibodies, Antibody Specificity, child, Congenital/*complications/immunology, female, fluorescent antibody technique, Hemagglutination Tests/methods, humans, Immunoglobulin M/*analysis, Immunosorbent Techniques, infant, male, Ocular/*etiology/immunology, preschool, Protozoan/*analysis, Toxoplasma/*immunology, toxoplasmosis

Physical health

Landau-Kleffner syndrome–epileptic aphasia in children–possible role of Toxoplasma gondii infection

November 8, 1988
Michaoowicz, R., Jozwiak, S., Ignatowicz, R., Szwabowska-Orzeszko, E.
Acta Paediatrica Hungarica 1988; 29: 337-342
Click for abstract
The association of unusual types of aphasia and epilepsy (Landau-Kleffner syndrome) has been described in three children. The children were 5 to 11 years of age and all have EEG abnormalities. Speech disorders appeared after epileptic seizures. No organic causes of the disease have been found in axial computed tomography. In all described cases the increased titer of IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii has been observed. The authors suggest that the Toxoplasma gondii infection should be taken into account as a possible cause of Landau-Kleffner syndrome.

Tagged: antibodies, aphasia/*etiology, child, electroencephalography, epilepsy/*etiology, female, humans, immunoglobulin G/analysis, male, preschool, protozoan/analysis, syndrome, toxoplasmosis/*complications/immunology

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

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China

December 8, 1970
Tian, A. L., Gu, Y. L., Zhou, N., Cong, W., Li, G. X., Elsheikha, H. M., Zhu, X. Q.
Infectious Diseases of Poverty 1970; 6
Click for abstract
Background: There is accumulating evidence for an increased susceptibility to infection in patients with arthritis. We sought to understand the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in arthritis patients in eastern China, given the paucity of data on the magnitude of T. gondii infection in these patients. Methods: Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a crude antigen of the parasite in 820 arthritic patients, and an equal number of healthy controls, from Qingdao and Weihai cities, eastern China. Sociodemographic, clinical and lifestyle information on the study participants were also obtained. Results: The prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG was significantly higher in arthritic patients (18.8%) compared with 12% in healthy controls (P < 0.001). Twelve patients with arthritis had anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies - comparable with 10 control patients (1.5% vs 1.2%). Demographic factors did not significantly influence these seroprevalence frequencies. The highest T. gondii infection seropositivity rate was detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (24.8%), followed by reactive arthritis (23.8%), osteoarthritis (19%), infectious arthritis (18.4%) and gouty arthritis (14.8%). Seroprevalence rates of rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis were significantly higher when compared with controls (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). A significant association was detected between T. gondii infection and cats being present in the home in arthritic patients (odds ratio [OR], 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24 - 2.28; P = 0.001). Conclusions: These findings are consistent with and extend previous results, providing further evidence to support a link between contact with cats and an increased risk of T. gondii infection. Our study is also the first to confirm an association between T. gondii infection and arthritis patients in China. Implications for better prevention and control of T. gondii infection in arthritis patients are discussed.

Tagged: antibodies, antitoxoplasma, arthritis, autoimmunity, Cerebral toxoplasmosis, congenital toxoplasmosis, disease, expression, oocysts, prevalence, rheumatoid-arthritis, risk factors, seroprevalence, tnf-alpha, Toxoplasma gondii

Physical health

Frontiers of neurological diagnosis in acquired toxoplasmosis

November 9, 1966
Kramer W.
Psychiatria, Neurologia, Neurochirurgia 1966; 69: 43-64.
Tagged: *neurologic examination, *neurologic manifestations, adolescent, adult, antibodies, central nervous system diseases/*diagnosis, cerebrospinal fluid proteins, child, complement fixation tests, electroencephalography, female, humans, infant, male, middle aged, preschool, serologic tests, toxoplasmosis/*diagnosis

Mental healthPhysical health

The incidence of toxoplasma antibodies in mental hospital patients

November 9, 1961
Cook I, Derrick EH
Australasian Annals of Medicine 1961; 10: 137-141.
Tagged: antibodies, hospitals, humans, incidence, mental-disorders, protozoan, psychiatric, Toxoplasma, toxoplasmosis/immunology

Mental health
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