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Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Compendium of Known Effects and Ongoing Research

disease

The association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and hypertensive disorders in T2DM patients: a case-control study in the Han Chinese population

September 4, 2018
Han, Y. J., Nie, L. H., Ye, X. H., Zhou, Z. X., Huang, S. Q., Zeng, C. L., Guo, C. C., Ou, M. L., Xiao, D., Zhang, B. H., Huang, C. C., Ye, X. G., Jing, C. X., Yang, G.
Parasitology Research 2018; 117: 689-695
Click for abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global health problem. The rate of infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is more than one-third of the total world population. The effects of T. gondii infection on the risk of diabetic complications and comorbidities are unclear. This study aims to determine the relationship between T. gondii infection and complications of T2DM in the Han Chinese population. We collected 1580 blood samples from T2DM patients and measured the levels of specific IgG antibodies against T. gondii in the sera of these patients using an ELISA assay. A logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of T. gondii infection on the complications of T2DM, while adjusting for age, gender, and triglyceride level (TG). We applied the multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method to detect the interactions between T. gondii infections, demographic indexes and biochemical indicators among the different complications. Gender (the odds ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95%CI =0.45-0.89, P = 0.008) and TG level (OR = 0.64, 95%CI =0.45-0.89, P = 0.009) were influencing factors in T. gondii infections. T2DM patients who were infected with T. gondii had a 2.34 times risk of developing hypertension than those patients without T. gondii infection (OR = 2.34, 95%CI = 1.12-4.88, P = 0.024). The multiplicative interaction analysis and the additive interaction analysis did not reveal any evidence of interactive effects on diabetic complications and comorbidities. T. gondii might be a factor associated with hypertension in T2DM patients.

Tagged: brazil, disease, hypertension, igg, infection, metabolism, neuropathy, relevance, risk, Toxoplasma gondii, type-2 diabetes-mellitus

Physical health

Seroprevalance Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in children and adolescents with tourette syndrome/chronic motor or vocal tic disorder: A case-control study

September 3, 2018
Akaltun, I., Kara, T., Kara, S. S., Ayaydin, H.
Psychiatry Research 2018; 263: 154-157
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Toxoplasma gondii infection may be associated with psychiatric disorders due to its neurological effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between tic disorders in children and adolescents and Anti-Toxoplasma IgG. 43 children diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome(TS) and 87 with chronic motor or vocal tic disorder(CMVTD), and 130 healthy volunteers, all aged 7-18, were enrolled. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody levels obtained from blood specimens were investigated. Toxoplasma IgG positivity was determined in 16(37.2%) of the patients with TS, in 27(31%) of those with CMVTD and in 12(9.2%) members of the control group. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody positivity was 5.827-fold higher in subjects with TS and 4.425-fold higher in subjects with CMVTD compared to the control group. Correlation was determined between a diagnosis of TS or CMVTD and Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. We think that it will be useful for the neuropsychiatric process associated with Anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies to be clarified.

Tagged: association, behavior, children, disease, infection, mechanisms, obsessive-compulsive disorder, risk, seroprevalance, tic disorders, tourette's syndrome, Toxoplasma gondii, traffic accidents

Mental healthPhysical health

Toxoplasma antibody titers in mania: A cross sectional study

August 31, 2018
Mangot, A. G., Shivakumar, V., Saini, V., Subbanna, M., Kalmady, S. V., Venkatasubramanian, G.
Journal of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University 2018; 7: 13-20
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Background: Recent studies have found a role of infectious agents, especially Toxoplasma gondii, in pathology of bipolar disorder - mania. Aim and Objectives: This study was conducted with the aim to find the prevalence of toxoplasma antibody titers in Indian patients with mania and to assess its specificity towards the clinical profile. Material and Methods: Thirty-four patients having mania were recruited who were psychotropic naive/free, along with 74 healthy controls. Psychopathology was assessed using structured assessment scales. Serum concentration of Toxoplasma IgG was measured using Diesse Enzywell Toxoplasma IgG immunoassay kit. Results: Mann-Whitney U test revealed that the toxoplasma antibody levels were significantly higher in the mania group than healthy controls (U = 766.5, z = 3.25, p = 0.001). Spearman correlation analyses did not reveal any significant correlation between toxoplasma antibody levels and age at onset (n = 0.19, p = 0.26) or YMRS scores (n = 0.15, p = 0.39). Discussion: The herein reported association could have potential implications in better understanding the pathophysiology of mania and its treatment. This is the first study to evaluate the association between toxoplasma titers and mania in India with only a few studies done elsewhere in the world.

Tagged: bipolar, bipolar disorder, depression, disease, Dopamine, fatal attraction, gondii infection, individuals, mania, psychosis, risk factors, Schizophrenia, seroprevalence, Toxoplasma

Mental health

Risky business: linking Toxoplasma gondii infection and entrepreneurship behaviours across individuals and countries

August 31, 2018
Johnson, S. K., Fitza, M. A. , Lerner, D. A., Calhoun, D. M., Beldon, M. A. , Chan, E. T., Johnson, P. T. J.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 2018; 285
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Disciplines such as business and economics often rely on the assumption of rationality when explaining complex human behaviours. However, growing evidence suggests that behaviour may concurrently be influenced by infectious microorganisms. The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii infects an estimated 2 billion people worldwide and has been linked to behavioural alterations in humans and other vertebrates. Here we integrate primary data from college students and business professionals with national-level information on cultural attitudes towards business to test the hypothesis that T. gondii infection influences individual- as well as societal-scale entrepreneurship activities. Using a saliva-based assay, we found that students (n = 1495) who tested IgG positive for T. gondii exposure were 1.4 x more likely to major in business and 1.7x more likely to have an emphasis in 'management and entrepreneurship' over other business-related emphases. Among professionals attending entrepreneurship events, T. gondii-positive individuals were 1.8x more likely to have started their own business compared with other attendees (n = 197). Finally, after synthesizing and combining country-level databases on T. gondii infection from the past 25 years with the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor of entrepreneurial activity, we found that infection prevalence was a consistent, positive predictor of entrepreneurial activity and intentions at the national scale, regardless of whether previously identified economic covariati.ss were included. Nations with higher infection also had a lower fraction of respondents citing 'fear of failure' in inhibiting new business ventures. While correlational, these results highlight the linkage between parasitic infection and complex human behaviours, including those relevant to business, entrepreneurship and economic productivity.

Tagged: animal behavior, attraction, disease, ecology, emerging infectious disease, entrepreneurship, gondii infection, growth, human behaviour, humans, microbiome, parasite manipulation, Schizophrenia, society, strategic entrepreneurship, testosterone, Toxoplasma gondii

Behavior

Viral and parasitic pathogen burden and the association with stroke in a population-based cohort

February 12, 2018
Pearce, B. D.,Bracher, A. , Jones, J. L., Kruszon-Moran, D.
International Journal of Stroke 2018; 13_: 481-495
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Background Higher cumulative burden of viral and bacterial pathogens may increase the risk of stroke, but the contribution of parasitic infections in relation to cumulative pathogen burden and risk of stroke has rarely been examined. Aim To estimate the association of multiple persistent viral and parasitic infections with stroke in a representative sample of adults in the United States. Methods Serological evidence of prior infection was categorized as positive for 0-1, 2, 3, or 4-5 infections based on immunoglobulin G seropositivity to cytomegalovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and Toxocara spp. in 13,904 respondents from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Regression analysis was used to estimate the cross-sectional association between serological evidence of prior infection and history of stroke adjusting for demographic risk factors, and potential mediators of stroke. Results Age-adjusted models that included serological evidence of prior infection to cytomegalovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and Toxocara spp. showed that adults in the highest serological evidence of prior infection category (4-5 infections) had a higher prevalence of stroke (5.50%, 95% confidence interval 2.44-10.46%) than those in the lowest serological evidence of prior infection categories (1.49%, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.11%), and a trend test suggested a graded association between serological evidence of prior infection and stroke (p=0.02). In multivariable logistic regression models, the positive association of serological evidence of prior infection with stroke prevalence remained significant after adjustment for other significant risk factors (odds ratio=1.4, p=0.01) but was only significant among those aged 20-59 (odds ratio=2.0, p=0.005) and not among those aged 60-69 (p=0.78) or 70 and older (p=0.43). Conclusion We found support for a connection between serological evidence of prior infection to cytomegalovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, Toxoplasma gondii, and Toxocara spp. and stroke among those aged 20-59. There may be a need to consider common parasitic infections in addition to viral and bacterial pathogens when calculating serological evidence of prior infection in relation to cerebrovascular disease.

Tagged: b-virus infection, cytomegalovirus, disease, Epidemiology, helicobacter-pylori, hepatitis virus, infection, national-health, prevention, risk, seroprevalence, toxocara, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasma gondii infection, united-states

Physical health

Toxoplasma gondii infection and behavioral outcomes in humans: a systematic review

February 12, 2018
Martinez, V. O. , Lima, F. W. D., . de Carvalho, C. F, Menezes, J. A.
Parasitology Research 2018; 117: 3059-3065
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Studies suggest that the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii can disturb human behavior. This study aimed to systematically review the scientific literature on the possible associations between Toxoplasma gondii infection and neurobehavioral abnormalities in humans. We reviewed and summarized the studies published since 1990. The descriptors used were related to T. gondii infection and behavioral outcomes in humans; the main databases of the medical literature were accessed. The results of eight original articles published between 1994 and 2016 were evaluated and described. The most common serological method was the enzyme immunoassay. Most of the researchers used validated instruments for behavioral evaluation. Seven studies reported some association between the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and some altered behavioral aspects in adult humans; these studies focused on adult population in Europe and the USA. The most reported behavioral deviations are related to greater impulsivity and aggressiveness. There are very few studies on this subject, which present some limitations for inference and conclusions: most were cross-sectional studies, with a small sample size and in similar populations. Investigations with a larger sample size of different population groups should be performed to evaluate multiple factors.

Tagged: aggression, behavior, disease, disorders, latent toxoplasmosis, metaanalysis, neurobehavioral manifestations, personality, problems, Schizophrenia, seroprevalence, Toxoplasma, women

BehaviorReviews

Seroprevalence of Bartonella species, Coxiella burnetii and Toxoplasma gondii among patients with hematological malignancies: A pilot study in Romania

December 8, 2017
Messinger, C. J., Gurzau, E. S., Breitschwerdt, E. B., Tomuleasa, C. I., Trufan, S. J., Flonta, M. M., Maggi, R. G., Berindan-Neagoe, I., Rabinowitz, P. M.
Zoonoses and Public Health 2017;64:485-490
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Patients receiving immunosuppressive cancer treatments in settings where there is a high degree of human-animal interaction may be at increased risk for opportunistic zoonotic infections or reactivation of latent infections. We sought to determine the seroprevalence of selected zoonotic pathogens among patients - diagnosed with haematologic malignancies and undergoing chemotherapeutic treatments in Romania, where much of the general population lives and/or works in contact with livestock. A convenience sample of 51 patients with haematologic cancer undergoing chemotherapy at a referral clinic in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, was surveyed regarding animal exposures. Blood samples were obtained and tested for evidence of infection with Bartonella species, Coxiella burnetii and Toxoplasma gondii, which are important opportunistic zoonotic agents in immunocompromised individuals. 58.8% of participants reported living or working on a farm, and living or working on a farm was associated with contact with livestock and other animals. 37.5% of participants were IgG seroreactive against one or more of five Bartonella antigens, and seroreactivity was statistically associated with living on farms. Farm dwellers were 3.6 times more likely to test IgG seroreactive to Bartonella antibodies than non-farm dwellers. 47.1% of the participants tested T. gondii IgG positive and 13.7% tested C. burnetii IgG positive, indicating past or latent infection. C. burnetii IgM antibodies were detected in four participants (7.8%), indicating possible recent infection. These results indicate that a large proportion of patients with haematologic cancer in Romania may be at risk for zoonotic infections or for reactivation of latent zoonotic infections, particularly with respect to Bartonella species. Special attention should be paid to cancer patients' exposure to livestock and companion animals in areas where much of the population lives in rural settings.

Tagged: animals, Bartonella, blood, Coxiella burnetii, disease, humans, immunocompromised patients, infections, livestock, q-fever, seroprevalence, Toxoplasma

Physical health

Temporal cognitive decline associated with exposure to infectious agents in a population-based, aging cohort

October 29, 2016
Nimgaonkar, V. L., Yolken, R. H., Wang, T. X., Chang, C. C. H., McClain, L., McDade, E., Snitz, B. E., Ganguli, M
Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders 2016; 30: 216-222
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Background:Numerous cross-sectional studies have related exposure to neurotropic infectious agents with cognitive dysfunction in older adults, however, the temporal sequence is uncertain.Methods:In a representative, well-characterized, population-based aging cohort, we determined whether the temporal trajectories of multiple cognitive domains are associated with exposure to cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes Simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1), Herpes Simplex virus, type 2 (HSV-2), or Toxoplasma gondii (TOX). Complex attention, executive functions, memory, language, and visuospatial function were assessed annually for 5 years among consenting individuals. Study entry IgG antibody titers indexing exposure to each infectious agent were examined in relation to slopes of subsequent temporal cognitive decline using multiple linear regressions adjusted for potential confounders.Results:The IgG levels for HSV-2 were significantly associated with baseline cognitive domain scores (N=1022 participants). Further, the IgG levels for HSV-2, TOX, and CMV, but not HSV-1 were significantly associated with greater temporal cognitive decline that varied by type of infection.Conclusions:Exposure to CMV, HSV-2, or TOX is associated with cognitive deterioration in older individuals, independent of general age-related variables. An increased understanding of the role of infectious agents in cognitive decline may lead to new methods for its prevention and treatment.

Tagged: aging, antibodies, bipolar disorder, CMV, cognition, community, cytomegalovirus, disease, Epidemiology, herpes virus, impairment, persistent infection, Schizophrenia, simplex-virus type-1, Toxoplasma gondii, viral-infections

Cognitive functions

Relationship of Toxoplasma Gondii Exposure with Multiple Sclerosis

January 4, 2016
Oruc, S.
European Journal of General Medicine, 2016, 13: 58-63
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Objective: Toxoplasma gondii infection is a very common parasitic disease in human. In Turkey, the rate of seropositivity was reported as 23.1% to 36%. Because of the high affinity of parasite into Central Nervous System (CNS), chronic toxoplasma infection has been found correlated with many neuropsychiatric disorders, including altered mental status, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cognitive impairment, epilepsy, headache and schizophrenia. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether T. gondii has any role in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by measuring anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. Methods: Fifty-two MS patients followed up and 45 controls with similar age and socioeconomic status were included in the study. Anti-T. gondii IgL antibodies of the patients and controls were studied in blood with micro-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Of 52 MS patients included in the study, 37 had RRMS, 10 PPMS and 5 SPMS. Mean age of onset of the disease was 31.7 +/- 10.4 (min; 14 and max; 53). Twenty three of 52 (44.2%) cases with MS and 11 of 45 (24.4%) healthy controls were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies. There was a statistically significant difference between the rates of positivity between the MS patient group and control group (p=0.042). Conclusion: This study shows a relation of chronic T. Gondii infection with MS. According to this study, experienced T. gondii infection may be one of the several environmental risk factors for MS.

Tagged: activated microglia, autoimmunity, brain, chronic infection, disease, environmental risk-factors, hygiene hypothesis, infection, inflammation, interferon-gamma, metaanalysis, multiple sclerosis, pathogenesis, Toxoplasma gondii

Physical health

Is toxoplasmosis a potential risk factor for liver cirrhosis?

October 9, 2015 16 Comments
El-Henawy, A. A., Razik, A. A., Zakaria, S., Elhammady, D., Saudy, N., Azab, M. S.
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2015; 8: 768-775
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Objective: To document Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) antibody status in patients with liver disease, blood samples were taken from 180 hepatic patients and 180 healthy controls. Methods: Toxoplasma IgG antibody was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and histopathological assessment of liver biopsy METAVIR score was applied. Results: Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 32.8% of patients and in 22.2% of controls (P=0.02). Toxoplasma scropositivity was significantly associated with lymphadenopathy, history of blood transfusion and reflex impairment in patients. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and chronic HCV-related cirrhosis groups compared to chronic HBV and chronic HBV-related cirrhosis groups expressed significantly higher prevalence of T. gondii seropositivity (odds ratio (OR) =4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-12.6; P=0.013, OR=4.8; 95% CI: 1.5-14.9; P=0.006, respectively). Within the chronic HCV group, T. gondii seropositivity significantly associated disease evolution as regards to METAVIR histopathological system for fibrosis and inflammation (OR=19.4; 95% Cl: 2.3-165.2; P=0.0008, OR=0.29; 95% Cl: 0.1-0.8; P=0.01, respectively). Albumin, international normalized ratio (INR) and platelets count were the laboratory parameters significantly altered in Toxoplasma-positive chronic HCV patients (P=0.001, 0.03, 0.04, respectively). Child-Pugh scoring for cirrhosis in chronic HCV group placed the majority of seropositive patient in class C with significant statistical difference compared to Child A reference group (OR=0.08; 95% Cl 0.01-0.5; P=0.003). Conclusions: Toxoplasma seropositivity was high in patients with cirrhosis and associated higher grades of inflammation and necrosis signifying disease evolution, suggesting that cirrhotic patients may thus form a risk group for toxoplasmosis

Tagged: blood-donors, c virus-infection, child-pugh score, chronic viral-hepatitis, congenital toxoplasmosis, diagnosis, disease, gondii infection, hbv, hcv, hepatic stellate cells, ifn-gamma, liver cirrhosis, metavir score, needle-aspiration-cytology, Toxoplasma gondii

Physical health

Association between latent toxoplasmosis and cognition in adults: a cross-sectional study

October 9, 2015 13 Comments
Gale, S. D., Brown, B. L., Erickson, L. D., Berrett, A., Hedges, D. W.
Parasitology 2015; 142: 557-565
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Latent infection from Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is widespread worldwide and has been associated with cognitive deficits in some but not all animal models and in humans. We tested the hypothesis that latent toxoplasmosis is associated with decreased cognitive function in a large cross-sectional dataset, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). There were 4178 participants aged 20-59 years, of whom 191% had IgG antibodies against T. gondii. Two ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models adjusted for the NHANES complex sampling design and weighted to represent the US population were estimated for simple reaction time, processing speed and short-term memory or attention. The first model included only main effects of latent toxoplasmosis and demographic control variables, and the second added interaction terms between latent toxoplasmosis and the poverty-to-income ratio (PIR), educational attainment and race-ethnicity. We also used multivariate models to assess all three cognitive outcomes in the same model. Although the models evaluating main effects only demonstrated no association between latent toxoplasmosis and the cognitive outcomes, significant interactions between latent toxoplasmosis and the PIR, between latent toxoplasmosis and educational attainment, and between latent toxoplasmosis and race-ethnicity indicated that latent toxoplasmosis may adversely affect cognitive function in certain groups.

Tagged: attention, behavior, brain, cognition, deficits, disease, gondii infection, memory, Mexico, performance, processing speed, Schizophrenia, seroprevalence, socioeconomic position, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis

Cognitive functions

Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and cognitive functions in school-aged children

October 6, 2015 12 Comments
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

Immune alterations in acute bipolar depression

May 28, 2015
Dickerson, F., Katsafanas, E., Schweinfurth, L. A. B., Savage, C. L. G., Stallings, C., Origoni, A., Khushalani, S., Lillehoj, E., Yolken, R.
Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2015; 132: 204-210
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Objective immunologic abnormalities have been found in bipolar disorder and acute mania. However, there have been fewer studies of patients with acute bipolar depression. MethodBlood samples were obtained from individuals with acute bipolar depression, acute mania, and controls. These samples were evaluated for antibodies to human herpesviruses, gliadin, Toxoplasma gondii, and endogenous retroviruses as well as for C-reactive protein (CRP) and pentraxin-3 using immunoassay methods. Linear regression models were used to compare the levels of the markers controlling for demographic and clinical variables. A subset of the bipolar depressed group was evaluated at a 6-month follow-up. ResultsThe sample consisted of 82 individuals with acute bipolar depression, 147 with acute mania, and 280 controls. The levels of CRP and IgG antibodies to an endogenous retrovirus, Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV), were significantly elevated in the bipolar depressed group. Levels of pentraxin-3 were reduced in both psychiatric groups. An evaluation of 32 individuals 6months after hospitalization for bipolar depression showed a significant decrease in the levels of MPMV antibodies, but not a change in the other markers. ConclusionIndividuals with acute bipolar depression show immune alterations. Some of the alterations are similar to those found in acute mania.

Tagged: antibodies, bipolar disorder, c-reactive protein, cognitive deficits, depression, disease, disorder, individuals, mania, metaanalysis, neuroimmunology, Schizophrenia, Toxoplasma gondii

Mental health

An observational study of inflammation in the central nervous system in patients with bipolar disorder

January 5, 2015
Stich, O., Andres, T. A., Gross, C. M., Gerber, S. I., Rauer, S., Langosch, J. M.
Bipolar Disorders 2015; 17: 291-302
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ObjectivesThe potential influence of infections and immunological changes on the aetiology and pathogenesis of bipolar disorder (BD) has been discussed. Our aim was to detect intrathecal specific antibody synthesis against the neurotropic infectious agents that have previously been linked to BD. MethodsPaired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from 40 patients with BD were analysed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect the concentration of antibodies against the following neurotropic infectious pathogens: Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii), herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The specific antibody index (AI) was calculated, and an AI>1.4 was considered to be evidence of intrathecal specific antibody synthesis. Twenty-six patients with pseudotumour cerebri served as controls. ResultsEight out of 40 patients with BD displayed specific intrathecal antibody synthesis against at least one of the tested neurotropic agents compared to only one patient in the control group (p=0.061, not significant). Of these eight patients with BD, no significant prevalence of any particular neurotropic pathogen was evident. Five out of 40 patients with BD showed oligoclonal bands in the CSF, suggestive of a chronic immune reaction in the central nervous system (CNS). ConclusionsWe found evidence for increased production of antibody in the CSF of individuals with BD. However, the trend for polyspecific intrathecal antibody synthesis, as well as the presence of oligoclonal bands, might indicate activation of the intrathecal humoral immune system in a subgroup of patients with BD, as it is known to be associated with autoimmune disorders of the CNS.

Tagged: agents, antibodies, antibody index, autoimmunity, bipolar disorder, cerebrospinal fluid, cognitive deficits, cytomegalovirus, disease, epstein-barr-virus, herpes-simplex, herpesviridae, infection, intrathecal synthesis, networks, neurotropic agents, psychosis, Schizophrenia, simplex-virus type-1, Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasma gondii infection

Mental health

Lack of association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a case-control study in a Northern Mexican population

October 10, 2014 32 Comments
Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Vazquez-Alaniz, F., Sandoval-Carrillo, A. A., Salas-Pacheco, J. M., Hernandez-Tinoco, J., Sanchez-Anguiano, L. F., Liesenfeld, O.
Parasites & Vectors 2014; 7
Click for abstract
Background: The outcome of pregnancy is often threatened by hypertension disorders, i.e. eclampsia. Rate of infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can be as high as 80% in pregnant women, and infection acquired during pregnancy can lead to fetal death. Very little is known about a potential association between infections, i.e. those with Toxoplasma gondii, and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. Methods: Through a case-control study design, we investigated the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies in 146 pregnant women suffering from hypertensive disorders (cases) and 146 age-matched normotensive pregnant women (controls) attending a public hospital in Durango City, Mexico. Obstetric and blood pressure characteristics from cases and controls were also obtained. Results: Seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and IgG titers did not differ significantly in controls (8/146; 5.5%) and cases (9/146; 6.2%). Anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies were found in 2 (1.2%) controls and none of the cases. Seroprevalence of T. gondii in controls (5.5%) was similar to seroprevalences found in patients with mild preeclampsia (4/27: 14.8%), severe preeclampsia (5/95: 5.3%), eclampsia (0/16: 0%) and HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) (0/8: 0%) (P = 0.23). Conclusions: Our results suggest that latent infection with T. gondii is not associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnant women in Northern Mexico. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to elucidate the association of infection with T. gondii with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.

Tagged: disease, eclampsia, Epidemiology, hellp syndrome, infection, preeclampsia, risk, seroepidemiology, seroprevalence, Toxoplasma gondii, women

Physical health

Psychiatric disorders in Toxoplasma seropositive patients – CD8 connection

October 11, 2013 11 Comments
Bhadra, R., Cobb, D. A., Weiss, L. M., Khan, I. A.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2013; 39: 485-489
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Although the highest numbers of studies linking an infectious agent with schizophrenia has involved the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, the mechanistic underpinnings of this correlation has remained unaddressed. Incidentally, CD8 T cells, which play a pivotal role in mediating long-term immunity to Toxoplasma, are downregulated in schizophrenia patients. Recent studies have demonstrated that CD8 response is also impaired during chronic toxoplasmosis in murine models. In light of these new findings, in this article, we discuss the potential role of CD8 T cells in causing altered mental status in Toxoplasma seropositive schizophrenia patients.

Tagged: behavior, cd8 t cells, cells, disease, Dopamine, exhaustion, gondii, infection, lymphocytes, oxoplasma, pd-1, receptors, risk factors, Schizophrenia

Mental health

Toxoplasma infection and later development of schizophrenia in mothers

January 5, 2011
Pedersen, M. G., Stevens, H., Pedersen, C. B., Norgaard-Pedersen, B., Mortensen, P. B
American Journal of Psychiatry 2011;168: 814-821
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Objective: Several studies based on clinical samples have found an association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and schizophrenia, and a case-control study among U. S. military personnel with specimens available from both before and after diagnosis found a positive association between T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody level and schizophrenia. These findings have never been replicated in a prospective cohort study. The purpose of this study was to determine whether mothers infected with T. gondii have an elevated risk of schizophrenia or related disorders and whether the risk depends on IgG antibody level. Method: In a register-based prospective cohort study of 45,609 women born in Denmark, the level of T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies was measured in connection with childbirth between 1992 and 1995. Women were followed up from the date of delivery until 2008. Results: A significant positive association between T. gondii IgG antibody level and schizophrenia spectrum disorders was found. Mothers with the highest IgG level had a relative risk of 1.73 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.12-2.62) compared with mothers with the lowest IgG level. For schizophrenia, the relative risk was 1.68 (95% CI=0.77-3.46). When the mothers were classified according to IgG level, only those with the highest IgG levels had a significantly higher risk of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Conclusions: Women with high levels of T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies have a significantly elevated risk of developing schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Tagged: acid, agents, antibodies, brain, disease, gondii infection, molecular mimicry, systém

Mental health

Association between intracellular infectious agents

October 19, 2010
Krause, D., Matz, J., Weidinger, E., Wagner, J., Wildenauer, A., Obermeier, M., Riedel, M., Muller, N.
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience 2010; 260: 359-363
Click for abstract
The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in Tourette's syndrome (TS) are still unclear. Increasing evidence supports the involvement of infections, possibly on the basis of an altered immune status. Not only streptococci but also other infectious agents may be involved. This study investigates the association between the neurotrophic agents Chlamydia, Toxoplasma and TS. 32 patients with TS and 30 healthy matched controls were included. For each individual, IgA/IgG antibody titers against Chlamydia trachomatis/pneumoniae and Toxoplasma gondii were evaluated and analyzed with Fisher's exact test. We found a significantly higher rate of TS patients with elevated antibody titers against Chlamydia trachomatis (P = 0.017) as compared to controls. A trend toward a higher prevalence in the Tourette's group was shown for Toxoplasma (P = 0.069). In conclusion, within the TS patients a higher rate of antibody titers could be demonstrated, pointing to a possible role of Chlamydia and Toxoplasma in the pathogenesis of tic disorders. Because none of these agents has been linked with TS to date, a hypothesis is that infections could contribute to TS by triggering an immune response. It still remains unclear whether tic symptoms are partly due to the infection or to changes in the immune balance caused by an infection.

Tagged: chlamydia trachomatis, disease, immune system, infections, mycoplasma-pneumoniae infection, obsessive-compulsive disorder, pandas, plasma kynurenine, Schizophrenia, tic disorder, tourette's syndrome, Toxoplasma gondii, tryptophan, united-states

Mental health

Is there any role of Toxoplasma gondii in the etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder?

October 19, 2010
Miman, O., Mutlu, E. A., Ozcan, O., Atambay, M., Karlidag, R., Unal, S.
Psychiatry Research 2010; 177: 263-265
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric illness. Although the aetiology of OCD is still unknown, the family-genetic data show that familial forms of OCD may be associated with a specific genetic susceptibility. Recent investigations have associated development of OCD with infectious illness. Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is a common presentation of Toxoplasma gondii infection of the central nervous system (CNS). The most commonly affected CNS region in TE is the cerebral hemisphere, followed by the basal ganglia, cerebellum and brain stem. The basal ganglia has been implicated in the development of OCD. Therefore, in this study, it was aimed to investigate a possible association between Toxoplasma infection and OCD. We selected 42 patients with OCD and 100 healthy volunteers, and investigated the sero-positivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The sero-positivity rate for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies among OCD patients (47.62%) was found to be significantly higher than the rate in healthy volunteers (19%). This is the first report to examine a potential association between Toxoplasma infection and OCD. The main finding of the present study is an increased level of IgG antibodies to T. gondii in OCD patients when compared with the level in healthy controls. There might be a causal relationship between chronic toxoplasmosis and the aetiology of OCD. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tagged: basal ganglia, brain, children, disease, elisa, infection, obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd), plasticity, Toxoplasma gondii

Mental health

Serological pattern consistent with infection with type I Toxoplasma gondii in mothers and risk of psychosis among adult offspring

October 26, 2009
Xiao, J.C., Buka, S. L., Cannon, T.D., Suzuki, Y., Viscidi, R.P., Torrey, E. F., Yolken, R. H.
Microbes and Infection 2009; 11: 1011-1018.
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Previous studies have shown that maternal antibodies to Toxoplasma measured during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia and other psychoses in adult offspring Recently. it has been recognized that different genotypes of Toxoplasma have distinct neuropathogenic potential. The objective of this study was to investigate whether parasite genotype is a contributing factor to disease risk. We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) that use., polymorphic polypeptides specific to the three clonal parasite lineages and derived from three dense granule antigens. GRA5, GRA6 and GRA7. We used this assay to measure type-specific antibodies in the sera from 219 pregnant women whose children developed schizophrenia and affective psychotic illnesses in adult life, and 618 matched unaffected control mothers from three cohorts of the Collaborative Perinatal Project. We found that the offspring of mothers with a serological pattern consistent with Toxoplasma type I infection were at significantly increased risk for the development of psychoses as compared with the matched unaffected control mothers (odds ratio = 1.94, 95% confidence interval = 1.08-3.46; p = 0.03). The risk was particularly elevated for affective psychoses (OR = 5.24, 95% CI = 1.67-16 5; p = 0 005). In contrast, we did not find an association between maternal antibodies to other genotypes and risk of psychoses in the offspring These findings suggest in influence of the parasite genotype on increased risk of psychosis and provide further support for a substantive role of Toxoplasma in the etiology of psychosis. (C) 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS All rights reserved

Tagged: congenital toxoplasmosis, disease, genotype, gra7, immunocompromised patients, maternal exposure, maternal infection, peptide, peptides, psychosis, samples, Schizophrenia, serotyping, strains, toxoplasma gondii type i

Mental health

Alzheimer’s dementia or cerebral toxoplasmosis? Case study of dementia following toxoplasmosis infection

November 7, 2002
Freidel S, Martin-Solch C, Schreiter-Gasser U.
Nervenarzt 2002; 73: 874-878
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Cerebral toxoplasmosis can lead to dementia in AIDS and in immunodeficient patients. We present a case study in which cerebral toxoplasmosis was associated with a dementia of Alzheimer type. Half a year to one year before the cognitive impairment began, the patient suffered a subacute infection of toxoplasmosis at the age of 56. Neuropsychological examination as well as MRI suggested a diagnosis of dementia with infectious genesis. However, serological tests showed only little evidence of infection. Since the results of the PET examination indicated changes in the glucose metabolism typical of Alzheimer's disease,we infer a comorbidity of cerebral toxoplasmosis and dementia of Alzheimer type.

Tagged: aids, alzheimer dementia, central-nervous-system, Cerebral toxoplasmosis, disease, encephalitis

Mental health

Infection, treatment and immune response in patients with bipolar disorder versus patients with major depression, schizophrenia or healthy controls

November 7, 2002
Hinze-Selch D.
Bipolar Disord 2002; 4 Suppl 1: 81-83
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Bipolar disorder is the least Studied among the three major psychiatric disorders of schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder. Furthermore, investigations on infection and immunity in bipolar disorder make up only a small portion of the sparse research done on this disorder. However, there are reports that modulation of the immune system and certain infections might be associated with bipolar disorder and that there might be differences between bipolar and the other disorders. The purpose of this paper is to briefly review published data on these issues in bipolar versus the other disorders, and to present an ongoing clinical study on the putative involvement of infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii in these three major psychiatric disorders.

Tagged: bipolar disorder, blood mononuclear-cells, carbamazepine, disease, hiv-infection, immunity, in-vitro, infection, invitro, lithium, lymphocytes, secondary mania, sodium valproate, Toxoplasma gondii, valproate

Mental 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

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