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Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection is a risk factor for the development of some neuropsychiatric diseases. 1 Numerous clinical studies have shown that the seroprevalence of T. gondii is associated with a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, 2 suicidal behaviour, 2 mixed anxiety and depressive disorder. [3][4][5][6][7] T. gondii infection affects the predisposition and severity of depression in children and adolescents. 8 In our recent study, mice were also found to exhibit depression-like behaviours in a mouse model of T. gondii infection 9 or in offspring of mice with maternal T. gondii infection during pregnancy. 10 However, another study did not find a relationship between toxoplasmosis and major depression disorder. 11 Numerous studies have explored the causes of this controversy, that is, whether T. gondii infection induces mental disorder and whether this is affected by the host genetic susceptibility, 12 age of first exposure to T. gondii, 13 T. gondii strain 14 and symptom severity. 15 Interestingly, a case report of a T. gondii-seropositive depressed patient has shown that antidepressant treatment can be improved only after appropriate treatment for toxoplasmosis. 16 Thus, further research is required to examine the correlation between T. gondii infection and depression-like behaviours, to elucidate the exact mechanisms of depression-like behaviours caused by T. gondii infection, and to identify suitable drugs for treatment.

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