population – Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Lack of circulating toxoplasma gondii DNA in seropositive patients with bipolar or schizophrenia spectrum disorders

February 1, 2020
Galli, L., Del Grande, C. Rindi, L., Mangia, C., Mangano, V., Schiavi, E., Masci, I., Pinto, B., Kramer, L., Dell'Osso, L., Bruschi, F.
Psychiatry Research :2019, 173: 706 - 711

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The association between Toxoplasma and the psychosis continuum in a general population setting

September 4, 2018
Lindgren, M., Torniainen-Holm, M., Harkanen, T., Dickerson, F., Yolken, R. H., Suvisaari, J.
Schizophrenia Research 2018; 193: 329-335

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Inflammatory markers in recent onset psychosis and chronic schizophrenia

March 23, 2016
Dickerson, F., Stallings, C., Origoni, A., Schroeder, J., Katsafanas, E., Schweinfurth, L., Savage, C., Khushalani, S., Yolken, R.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2016; 42: 134-141

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Assessment of Toxoplasma sweropositivity in children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

January 4, 2016
Afsharpaiman, S., Khosravi, M. H., Faridchehr, M., Komijani, M., Radfar, S., Amirsalari, S., Torkaman, M., Shirbazoo, S.
Galen Medical Journal 2016; 5: 188-193

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Toxoplasma gondii infection in interstate truck drivers: a case-control seroprevalence study

October 9, 2015
Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Pacheco-Vega, S. J., Hernandez-Tinoco, J., Salcedo-Jaquez, M., Sanchez-Anguiano, L. F., Berumen-Segovia, L. O., Rabago-Sanchez, E., Liesenfeld, O.
Parasites & Vectors 2015; 8

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Background: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii can be acquired via the ingestion of undercooked or raw meat containing tissue cysts, or via ingestion of water contaminated with oocysts. Professional long distance truck driving may have epidemiological importance for food-borne infections since drivers eat out of home and in places where hygiene and cooking practices are uncertain. We aimed to determine whether interstate truck drivers in Durango, Mexico have an increased risk of infection with T. gondii as indicated by seropositivity; and to determine the socio-demographic, work, clinical, and behavioral characteristics associated with T. gondii seropositivity in interstate truck drivers. Methods: Through a case-control study design, 192 truck drivers and 192 controls from the general population of the same region matched by gender and age were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassays for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. Socio-demographic, work, clinical and behavioral characteristics from the truck drivers were obtained. Results: Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 23 (12.0%) of 192 truck drivers and in 13 (6.8%) of 192 controls (OR = 21.0; 95% CI: 1.23-358.38; P = 0.002). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in 7 (3.6%) cases and in 7 (3.6%) controls (P = 1.00). The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was higher in drivers with reflex impairment than in those without this impairment (4/13, 30.8% vs 19/179, 10.6%, respectively; P = 0.05), and in drivers with hearing impairment than in those without this impairment (3/7, 42.9% vs 20/185, 10.8%, respectively; P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis of work and behavioral characteristics of truck drives showed positive associations of T. gondii exposure with trips to the south of Mexico (OR = 3.11; 95% CI: 1.02-9.44; P = 0.04) and consumption of horse meat (OR = 5.18; 95% CI: 1.62-16.55; P = 0.005). Conclusions: Results suggest that interstate truck drivers may have an increased risk for T. gondii infection, and that T. gondii exposure may be impacting neurological functions in truck drivers. Contributing factors for T. gondii exposure should be taken into account for the design of optimal prevention measures against T. gondii infection.

Seroprevalence and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii in cancer patients in Anhui Province, Eastern China

October 6, 2015
Wang, L., He, L. Y., Meng, D. D., Chen, Z. W., Wen, H., Fang, G. S., Luo, Q. L., Huang, K. Q., Shen, J. L.
Parasites & Vectors 2015; 8.

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Background: Recent studies have indicated the predominance of Toxoplasma gondii genotype Chinese 1 in animals in China. However, little is known of the genetic features of the parasite in humans. This study aims to determine the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies based on which the genetic character of the parasite was identified in cancer patients in China. Methods: A total of 1014 serum samples with malignant neoplasms were collected from six tertiary-care hospitals (HAUCM, APH, HAMU, XAH, FHH and HBMC) from January, 2012 to August, 2013. Antibodies against T. gondii were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Blood samples were subsequently used for PCR assay to detect T. gondii DNA (gra6). The DNA positive samples were subjected to genotyping using a multiplex multilocus nested PCR-RFLP at 10 loci, including sag1, sag2, sag3, btub, gra6, l358, c22-8, c29-2, pk1 and apico. Samples from the patients were anonymous and only data with regard to age and gender was available at sample collection. Results: Overall, 8.38% (85/1014) of the examined patients showed positive antibodies against T. gondii. Among them, 61 (6.02%) were seropositive only for IgG, 16 (1.58%) were only for IgM, and 8 (0.79%) were found to be positive for both IgG and IgM. The seroprevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma ranged from 5.8% to 11.0%, without regional difference (x(2) = 4.764, P = 0.445). No significant differences of the positive rates of T. gondii infection were noted in genders (male, 8.96%; female, 7.45%) (x(2) = 0.707, P = 0.400) and in ages (x(2) = 1.172, P = 0.947). Of 1014 DNA samples, 36 (3.55%) were positive for T. gondii by nested PCR at gra6 locus and nine gave rise to complete genotyping results. All samples with achieved PCR-RFLP genotyping showed a common genetic character of type Chinese 1 (ToxoDB#9). Conclusion: Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in immunosuppressed individuals is rarely reported in China and we presented a positive rate of 8.38% in cancer patients. Toxoplasma genomic DNA genotyping demonstrated a common genetic character of Chinese 1, indicating a possible pathogenic origin of animals in human infection.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in psychiatric patients: a case-control study in eastern China

May 25, 2015
Cong, W., Dong, W., Bai, L., Wang, X. Y., Ni, X. T., Qian, A. D., Zhu, X. Q.
Epidemiology and Infection 2015; 143: 3103-3109

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Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in drivers involved in road traffic accidents in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

October 10, 2013
Galvan-Ramirez, M. D., Sanchez-Orozco, L. V., Rodriguez, L. R., Rodriguez, S., Roig-Melo, E., Sanroman, R. T., Chiquete, E., Armendariz-Borunda, J.
In: Parasites & Vectors 2013;6:10.1186/1756-3305-6-294

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Background: The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the general population of Guadalajara, Mexico, is around 32%. Toxoplasmosis can cause ocular lesions and slowing of reaction reflexes. Latent toxoplasmosis has been related with traffic accidents. We aimed to assess the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and visual impairments related with traffic accidents in drivers from the metropolitan Guadalajara. Methods: We prospectively evaluated the prevalence of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies in 159 individuals involved in traffic accidents, and in 164 control drivers never involved in accidents. Cases of toxoplasmosis reactivation or acute infection were detected by PCR in a subset of 71 drivers studied for the presence of T. gondii DNA in blood samples. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed in drivers with IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in search of ocular toxoplasmosis. Results: Fifty-four (34%) traffic accident drivers and 59 (36%) controls were positive to IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies (p = 0.70). Among the 113 seropositive participants, mean anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies titers were higher in traffic accident drivers than in controls (237.9 +/- 308.5 IU/ml vs. 122.9 +/- 112.7 IU/ml, respectively; p = 0.01 by Student's t test, p = 0.037 by Mann-Whitney U test). In multivariate analyses, anti-T. gondii IgG antibody titers were consistently associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents, whereas age showed an inverse association. The presence of IgM-anti-T. gondii antibodies was found in three (1.9%) subjects among traffic accident drives, and in two (1.2%) controls. Three (4.2%) samples were positive for the presence of T. gondii DNA, all among seropositive individuals. No signs of ocular toxoplasmosis were found in the entire cohort. Moreover, no other ocular conditions were found to be associated with the risk of traffic accidents in a multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Anti-T. gondii antibody titers are associated with the risk of traffic accidents. We could not determine any association of ocular toxoplasmosis with traffic accidents. Our results warrant further analyses in order to clarify the link between toxoplasmosis and traffic accidents

Toxoplasma gondii infection and suicide attempts a case-control study in psychiatric outpatients

October 10, 2013
Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Sanchez-Anguiano, L. F., Arnaud-Gil, C. A., Lopez-Longoria, J. C., Molina-Espinoza, L. F., Estrada-Martinez, S. Liesenfeld, O. Hernandez-Tinoco, J. Sifuentes-Alvarez, A. Salas-Martinez, C.
Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 2013; 201: 948-952.

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Elevated suicide risks, cats and toxoplasmosis

October 11, 2012
Sparkes, A.
Veterinary Record 2012; 171: 303-304

Parasitic infections and pregnancy complications

October 29, 2011
Pavlinova, J., Kincekova, J., Ostro, A., Saksun, L., Vasilkova, Z., Konigova, A.
Helminthologia 2011; 48: 8-12

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Meta-analysis of three case controlled studies and an ecological study into the link between cryptogenic epilepsy and chronic toxoplasmosis

October 29, 2007
Palmer, B. S.
Seizure-European Journal of Epilepsy 2007;16: 657-663

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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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Cryptogenic epilepsy: an infectious etiology?

November 7, 2001
Stommel, E. W., Seguin, R., Thadani, V. M., Schwartzman, J. D., Gilbert, K., Ryan, K. A., Tosteson, T. D., Kasper, L. H.
Epilepsia 2001; 42: 436-438

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