disease – Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

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

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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 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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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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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.

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

October 10, 2014 30 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

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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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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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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

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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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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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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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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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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

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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.