pregnant women – Toxoplasma gondii & Human Phenotype

Prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in Hormozgan Province, South of Iran

February 4, 2020
Khademi, S. Z., Ghaffarifar, F., Dalimi, A., Davoodian, P., Abdoli, A.
Iranian Journal of Parasitology 2019, 14: 167 - 173

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The association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and postpartum blues

February 4, 2020
Gao, J. M., He, Z. H., Xie, Y. T., Hide, G., Lai, D. H., Lun, Z. R.
Journal of Affective Disorder 2019, 250: 404 - 409 schizophrenia prevalence

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Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii among pregnant women in Adwa district, northern northern Ethiopia

February 4, 2020
Teweldemedhin, M., Gebremichael, A., Geberkirstos, G., Hadush, H., Gebrewahid, T., Asgedom, S. W., Gidey, B., Asres, N., Gebreyesus, H.
BMC Infectious Diseases 2019, 19

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Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in diabetic patients in Makkah AL Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia

September 3, 2018
Khalil, M., Baothman, M., Alserhan, F., Almunyif, A., Alsharbe, G., Samaren, H., Deqnah, N., Al Malki, A., Al Harbi, W.
Tropical Biomedicine 2018; 3: 464-471

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The relation of secondary sex ratio and miscarriage history with Toxoplasma gondii infection

August 31, 2018
Shojaee, S.,Teimouri, A., Keshavarz, H., Azami, S. J., Nouri, S.
Bmc Infectious Diseases 2018; 18: 307

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Lack of association between Toxoplasma gondii exposure and depression in pregnant women: a case-control study

October 3, 2017
Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Martinez-Martinez, A. L., Sanchez-Anguiano, L. F., Hernandez-Tinoco, J., Castillo-Orona, J. M., Salas-Martinez, C., Sifuentes-Alvarez, A., Sandoval-Carrillo, A. A., Salas-Pacheco, J. M., Liesenfeld, O., Antuna-Salcido, E. I.
BMC Infectious Diseases 2017; 17: 190

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Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in the Portuguese population: comparison of three cross-sectional studies spanning three decades

May 24, 2016
Gargate, M. J., Ferreira, I., Vilares, A., Martins, S., Cardoso, C., Silva, S., Nunes, B., Gomes, J. P.
Bmj Open 2016; 6: ARTN e011648 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011648

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Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among patients in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

May 24, 2016
Mohamed, Z., Hajissa, K.
Tropical Biomedicine 2016; 33: 78-83

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Toxoplasma gondii infection in cancer patients: Prevalence, risk factors, genotypes and association with clinical diagnosis

October 9, 2015
Cong, W., Liu, G. H., Meng, Q. F., Dong, W., Qin, S. Y., Zhang, F. K., Zhang, X. Y., Wang, X. Y., Qian, A. D.,
Cancer Letters 2015; 359: 307-313

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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.

A meta-analysis of the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in animals and humans in Ethiopia

May 28, 2015
Gebremedhin, E. Z., Tadesse, G.
Parasites & Vectors 2015; 8: Artn 291 10.1186/S13071-015-0901-7

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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

Relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and bipolar disorder in a French sample

October 11, 2013
Hamdani, N., Daban-Huard, C., Lajnef, M., Richard, J. R., Delavest, M., Godin, O., Le Guen, E., Vederine, F. E., Lepine, J. P., Jamain, S., Houenou, J., Le Corvoisier, P., Aoki, M., Moins-Teisserenc, H., Charron, D., Krishnamoorthy, R., Yolken, R., Dickerson, F., Tamouza, R., Leboyer, M.
Journal of Affective Disorders 2013; 148: 444-448

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Association between seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii, scholastic development of children and risk factors for T-gondii infection.

October 10, 2013
Ferreira, E. C., Marchioro, A. A., Guedes, T. A., Mota, D. C. G. A., Guilherme, A. L. F., de Araujo, S. M.
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2013; 107: 390-396.

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Maternal infection and schizophrenia: Implications for prevention

January 10, 2011
Brown, A. S., Patterson, P. H.
Schizophrenia Bulletin 2011; 37: 284-290

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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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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.

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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Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in psychiatric in-patients in a northern Mexican city

October 30, 2006
Alvarado-Esquivel, C., Alanis-Quinones, O. P., Arreola-Valenzuela, M. A., Rodriguez-Briones, A., Piedra-Nevarez, L. J., Duran-Morales, E., Estrada-Martinez, S., Martinez-Garcia, S. A., Liesenfeld, O.
BMC Infectious Diseases 2006; 6: 178

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Background: Patients with psychiatric disorders were found to show a high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection. There is scarce information about the epidemiology of T. gondii infection in psychiatric patients in Mexico. Therefore, we sought to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection and associated socio-demographic, clinical and behavioural characteristics in a population of psychiatric patients in Durango City, Mexico. Seroprevalence in patients was compared with that obtained in a control population. Methods: One hundred and thirty seven inpatients of a public psychiatric hospital and 180 controls were examined for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii by enzyme-linked immunoassay (Diagnostic Automation Inc., Calabasas, CA, USA). The control population consisted of blood donors of a public blood bank and elderly persons attending a senior center in the same city. Age in controls (42 years +/- 20.2) was comparable with that of the psychiatric patients (43.7 years +/- 13.8) (p = 0.42). Socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics from the patients were also obtained. Results: Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies indicating latent infection with T. gondii was found in 25 (18.2%) of 137 psychiatric inpatients and 16 (8.9%) of 180 controls (p = 0.02). Ten (26.3%) of 38 schizophrenic patients had latent infection and this prevalence was also significantly higher than that observed in controls (p = 0.005). Prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies was comparable among patients and controls (4.4% vs 2.2%, respectively, p = 0.22). Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii infection in inpatients was positively associated with sexual promiscuity (adjusted OR = 15.8; 95% CI: 3.8-64.8), unwashed raw fruit consumption (adjusted OR = 5.19; 95% CI: 2.3-11.3), and a history of surgery (adjusted OR = 6.5; 95% CI: 2.6-16), and negatively associated with lamb meat consumption (adjusted OR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.10-0.63). Conclusion: In the present study, psychiatric inpatients in Durango, Mexico, in general and schizophrenia inpatients in particular had a significantly higher prevalence of T. gondii infection than the control group. Results suggest that unwashed raw fruit consumption might be the most important route of T. gondii transmission in our psychiatric inpatients while lamb meat consumption the less important. Additional studies will have to elucidate the causative relation between infection with T. gondii and psychiatric disorders.

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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