Dopamine – Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

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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Chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection induces anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor autoantibodies and associated behavioral changes and neuropathology

February 12, 2018
Li, Y, Viscidi, R. P., Kannan, G., McFarland,R., Pletnikov, M. V., Severance,E. G., Yolken, R. H., Xiao, J. C.
Infection and Immunity 2018; 86: DOI: 10.1128/iai.00398-18

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Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and substance use in US adults

February 12, 2018
Berrett, A. N., Gale, S. D., Erickson,L. D., Thacker, E. L., Brown, B. L., Hedges, D. W.
Folia Parasitologica 2018; 65: 011

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Toxoplasma gondii exposure and Parkinson’s disease: a case-control study

October 3, 2017
Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Mendez-Hernandez, E. M., Salas-Pacheco, J. M., Ruano-Calderon, L. A., Hernandez-Tinoco, J., Arias-Carrion, O., Sanchez-Anguiano, L. F., Castellanos-Juarez, F. X., Sandoval-Carrillo, A. A., Liesenfeld, O., Ramos-Nevarez, A.
Bmj Open 2017; 7

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Objectives: To determine the association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and Parkinson's disease and to investigate whether T. gondii seropositivity is associated with the general characteristics of patients with Parkinson's disease. Design: Case-control study. Setting: Cases and controls were enrolled in Durango City, Mexico. Participants: 65 patients with Parkinson's disease and 195 age-and gender-matched control subjects without Parkinson's disease. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Serum samples of participants were analysed for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays. Prevalence of T. gondii DNA was determined in seropositive subjects using PCR. The association between clinical data and infection was examined by bivariate analysis. Results: Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 6/65 cases (9.2%) and in 21/195 controls (10.8%) (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.32 to 2.18; p=0.81). The frequency of high (>150 IU/mL) antibody levels was similar among cases and controls (p=0.34). None of the anti-T. gondii IgG positive cases and four of the anti-T. gondii IgG positive controls had anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies (p=0.54). The prevalence of T. gondii DNA was comparable in seropositive cases and controls (16.7% and 25%, respectively; p=1.0). Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was associated with a young age onset of disease (p=0.03), high Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale scores (p=0.04) and depression (p=0.02). Seropositivity to T. gondii infection was lower in patients treated with pramipexole than in patients without this treatment (p=0.01). However, none of the associations remained significant after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions: The results do not support an association between T. gondii infection and Parkinson's disease. However, T. gondii infection might have an influence on certain symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Further research to elucidate the role of T. gondii exposure on Parkinson's disease is warranted.

Parkinson’s disease and Toxoplasma gondii infection: Sero-molecular assess the possible link among patients

October 2, 2017
Fallahi, S., Rostami, A., Birjandi, M., Zebardast, N., Kheirandish, F., Spotin, A.
Acta Tropica 2017; 173: 97-101

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Neurophysiological changes induced by chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection.

March 13, 2017
Tedford, E., McConkey, G.
Pathogens. 2017; 6: 19-31

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Association between anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar in patients hospitalized in the psychiatric ward

October 6, 2016
Dalimiasl, A., Mosayebi, M., Ghorbanzadeh, B., Ghasemi, M., Hajihossein, R.
Australasian Medical Journal 2016; 9: 313-318

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The known and missing links between Toxoplasma gondii and schizophrenia

October 6, 2016
Elsheikha, H.M., Busselberg, D., Zhu, X.Q.
Metabolic Brain Disease 2016; 31: 749-759.

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Reduced ERPs and theta oscillations underlie working memory deficits in Toxoplasma gondii infected seniors

October 6, 2016
Gajewski, P. D., Falkenstein, M., Hengstler, J. G., Golka, K.
Psychology 2016; 120: 35-45.

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Reciprocal moderation by Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity and blood phenylalanine – tyrosine ratio of their associations with trait aggression

October 6, 2016
Mathai, A. J., Lowry, C. A., Cook, T. B., Brenner, L. A., Brundin, L., Groer, M. W., Peng, X. Q., Giegling, I., Hartmann, A. M., Konte, B., Friedl, M. Fuchs, D. Rujescu, D. Postolache, T. T.
Pteridines 2016; 27: 77-85.

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Is Toxoplasma gondii infection related to brain and behavior impairments in humans? Evidence from a population-representative birth cohort

May 28, 2016
Sugden, K., Moffitt, T. E., Pinto, L., Poulton, R., Williams, B. S., Caspi, A.
Plos One 2016; 11: ARTN e0148435 10.1371/journal.pone.0148435

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Seropositivity and serointensity of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and DNA among patients with schizophrenia

October 29, 2015
Omar, A., Bakar, O. C., Adam, N. F., Osman, H., Osman, A., Suleiman, A. H., Manaf, M. R. A., Selamat, M. I.
Korean Journal of Parasitology 2015; 53: 29-34

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The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in stutterers is higher than in the control group

October 9, 2015
Celik, T., Gokcen, C., Aytas, O., Ozcelik, A., Celik, M., Coban, N.
Folia Parasitologica 2015; 62

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Association between latent toxoplasmosis and clinical course of schizophrenia – continuous course of the disease is characteristic for Toxoplasma gondii-infected patients

October 9, 2015
Celik, T., Kartalci, S., Aytas, O., Akarsu, G. A., Gozukara, H., Unal, S.
Folia Parasitologica 2015; 62

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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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Seropositivity and serointensity of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and DNA among patients with schizophrenia

October 6, 2015
Omar, A., Bakar, O. C., Adam, N. F., Osman, H., Osman, A., Suleiman, A. H., Manaf, M. R. A., Selamat, M. I.
Korean Journal of Parasitology 2015; 53: 29-34.

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Schizophrenia and Toxoplasma gondii: an undervalued association?

September 27, 2015
Flegr, J.
Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy 2015; 13: 817-820

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Extraordinary tales parasites hijacking the minds of hosts

May 25, 2015
Bast, F.
Resonance-Journal of Science Education 2015; 20: 893-902

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Toxoplasma gondii exposure in patients suffering from mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use

January 10, 2015
Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Carrillo-Oropeza, D., Pacheco-Vega, S. J., Hernandez-Tinoco, J., Salcedo-Jaquez, M., Sanchez-Anguiano, L. F., Ortiz-Jurado, M. N., Alarcon-Alvarado, Y., Liesenfeld, O., Beristain-Garcia, I.
Bmc Infectious Diseases 2015; 15: Artn 172 10.1186/S12879-015-0912-1

Toxoplasma gondii impairs memory in infected seniors

October 10, 2014
Gajewski, P. D., Falkenstein, M., Hengstler, J. G., Golka, K.
Brain Behavior and Immunity 2014; 36: 193-199

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Latent Toxoplasma gondii infection leads to deficits in goal-directed behavior in healthy elderly

October 10, 2014
Beste, C., Getzmann, S., Gajewski, P. D., Golka, K., Falkenstein, M
Neurobiology of Aging 2014; 35: 1037-1044.

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Latent Toxoplasma gondii infection leads to improved action control

October 10, 2014
Stock, A. K., von Heinegg, E. H., Kohling, H. L., Beste, C.
Brain Behavior and Immunity 2014; 37: 103-108

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Masterpiece of epigenetic engineering – how Toxoplasma gondii reprogrammes host brains to change fear to sexual attraction

January 9, 2014
Flegr, J., Markos, A.
Molecular Ecology 2014; 23:5934-5936

Psychiatric disorders in Toxoplasma seropositive patients – CD8 connection

October 11, 2013
Bhadra, R., Cobb, D. A., Weiss, L. M., Khan, I. A.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2013; 39: 485-489

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Toxoplasma gondii infection and behaviour – location, location, location?

March 26, 2013
McConkey, G. A., Martin, H. L., Bristow, G. C., Webster, J. P.
Journal of Experimental Biology 2013; 216: 113-119

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The role of parasites and pathogens in influencing generalised anxiety and predation-related fear in the mammalian central nervous system

October 12, 2012
Kaushik, M., Lamberton, P.H.L., Webster, J.P.
Hormones and Behavior 2012; 62: 191-201

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The role of latent toxoplasmosis in the aetiopathogenesis of schizophrenia – the risk factor or an indication of a contact with cat?

October 19, 2010
Yuksel, P., Alpay, N., Babur, C., Bayar, R., Saribas, S., Karakose, A. R., Aksoy, C., Aslan, M., Mehmetali, S., Kilic, S., Balcioglu, I., Hamanca, O., Dirican, A., Kucukbasmaci, O., Oner, A., Torun, M. M., Kocazeybek, B.
Folia Parasitologica 2010; 57: 121-128

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Schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis

October 26, 2009
Dion, S., Barbe, P. G., Leman, S., Camus, V., Dimier-Poisson, I.
M S-Medecine Sciences 2009; 25: 687-691.

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Higher prevalence of toxoplasmosis in victims of traffic accidents suggest increased risk of traffic accident in Toxoplasma-infected inhabitants of Istanbul and its suburbs.

October 26, 2009
Kocazeybek, B., Oner, Y. A., Turksoy, R., Babur, C., Cakan, H., Sahip, N., Unal, A., Ozaslan, A., Kilic, S., Saribas, S., Asian, M., Taylan, A., Koc, S., Dirican, A., Uner, H. B., Oz, V., Ertekin, C., Kucukbasmaci, O., Torun, M. M.
Forensic Science International 2009; 187: 103-108

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Reflexes of drivers who have toxoplasmosis have been shown to deteriorate from the actions of the parasitic cysts. The cysts can change the level of the neurotransmitters such as dopamine in the brain and by doing so extend the muscle response time and change personality profiles. In this Study, we aimed to determine the frequency of the latent toxoplasmosis (LT) in the driver population who were either injured or died in traffic accidents reported in Istanbul and its suburbs. We compared the results with a control group and discussed the relationship between the LT and the traffic accidents. We included 218 (89.7%) non-fatal, 25 (10.3%) fatal cases in our study as study groups. A total 243 subjects, 234 (96%) male, 9 (4%) female (who were alcohol negative) compared with 191 (95.5%) male and 9 (4.5%) female Subjects (control group) who had a traffic accident before but no history of toxoplasmosis were studied. Serologic tests, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for IgG and IgM, and microimmunoflorescence (MIF) for IgG were used as the reference test, the Sabin-Feldman Dye test (SFDT) was used. According to serologic test results, LT seroprevalence in the study groups was 130 (53.5%) and in the control group 56 (28%) (p < 0.0001). A LT was present in 126 out of 234 (53.8%) males in the study groups, and 54 out of 191 (28.3%) males in the control group (p < 0.0001). In the 31-44 year age group, there was a significant difference with regard to toxoplasmosis between the study subjects and control groups (p < 0.0001). This difference was statistically very significant in (recent and former) cases with middle-aged men (31 44 years old). The results of this retrospective study Suggest that LT in drivers, especially those who are between 31 and 44 years might increase the risk for getting involved in a car accident. In a prospective study, Toxoplasma positive and negative subjects can be monitored before they are involved in a traffic accident to clarify the cause and result relationship. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Psychosis may be associated with toxoplasmosis

October 26, 2009
Zhu S.
Medical Hypotheses 2009; 73: 799-801.

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Sex-dependent toxoplasmosis-associated differences in testosterone concentration in humans

January 9, 2008
Flegr, J., Lindová, J., Kodym, P.
Parasitology 2008; 135: 427-431

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Parasitosis, dopaminergic modulation and metabolic disturbances in schizophrenia: evolution of a hypothesis

October 26, 2007
Treuer T, Martenyi F, Karagianis J.
Neuroendocrinology Letters 2007; 28: 535-540.

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Effects of Toxoplasma on human behavior

September 26, 2007
Flegr, J.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2007; 33: 757-760

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Schizophrenia susceptibility genes directly implicated in the life cycles of pathogens: Cytomegalovirus, influenza, herpes simplex, rubella, and Toxoplasma gondii.

October 30, 2006
Carter CJ.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2006; 35: 1163-1182

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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.

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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

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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.

Decreased level of novelty seeking in blood donors infected with Toxoplasma

September 26, 2005
Skallová, A., Novotná, M., Kolbeková, P., Gasová, Z., Veselý,V., Sechovská, M., Flegr, J.
Neuroendocrinology Letters 2005; 26: 480-486

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Decreased level of psychobiological factor novelty seeking and lower intelligence in men latently infected with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Dopamine, a missing link between schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis?

September 26, 2003
Flegr, J., Preiss, M., Klose, J., Havlíček, J., Vitáková, M, Kodym, P.
Biological Psychology 2003; 63: 253-268

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