Investigation of Anti-Toxocaraand Anti-ToxoplasmaAntibodies in Patients with Schizophrenia Disorder

Abstract

Objective. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. infections in patients with schizophrenia disorder. Method. A total of 100 patients with schizophrenia disorder and 95 healthy individuals participated in the study. Participants were tested for the presence of anti-T. gondii and anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies by ELISA and Western blotting. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher9s exact test. Results. There were no differences in T. gondii IgG seroprevalence between patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals (P = 0.1), but there were differences in seroprevalence between males and females with schizophrenia (P = 0.009). In contrast, Toxocara spp. IgG seroprevalence was greater in patients with schizophrenia disorder than in healthy individuals (P = 0.02), but there were no differences in seroprevalence between men and women with schizophrenia (P = 0.5). Finally, there were no differences in seroprevalence of T. gondii or Toxocara spp. IgG among different subtypes of schizophrenia, various age groups, residential area, or clinical course of treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusion. The present study suggests that patients with schizophrenia disorder are at elevated risk of Toxocara spp. infection. Moreover, contamination with T. gondii is a risk factor for schizophrenia in women.

Is there any role of latent toxoplasmosis in schizophrenia disease?

“…In another study published in 2014, anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were detected in 34% of patients with schizophrenia and 47.39% of healthy controls. 14 The findings of the present study have shown inconsistency with other studies that have reported that seropositivity to T. gondii infection was significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia compared with that in healthy controls. The results of the study that was carried out by Çetinkaya et al 9 in the same hospital in Elazig in 2007 are noteworthy.…”

“…Similarly, another study also reported that there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of toxoplasmosis among subtypes of schizophrenia. 14 Positive symptoms reflect an excess or distortion of the individual's normal functions, are not present in people in the normal population, and are mainly present during the acute stage of schizophrenia. Negative symptoms are characterized by the elimination or absence of normal behavior, and may appear months and years before the onset of positive symptoms.…”

Prevalence of toxoplasmosis and related risk factors among humans referred to main laboratories of Urmia city, North West of Iran, 2013

“…Reports from Iran illustrates different prevalence rates range from 12.8 to 80 % in different geographical regions and on different populations such as hemodialysis, diabetic and schizophrenia patients and also healthy general population (Assmar et al 1997;Bayani et al 2013;Borna et al 2013;Ebrahim Zadeh et al 2014;Ghorbani et al 1981;Khademvatan et al 2014;Shirbazou et al 2013). Ghorbani et al (1978) carried out one of the oldest studies in Iran on seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis among inhabitants of Caspian see basin.…”

Toxoplasma gondii infection in the context of the risk of schizophrenia development

“…The incidence of schizophrenia is estimated at 1% of the adult population. The onset of the disease is usually observed in late adolescence or early adulthood (11).…”

“…Khademvatan et al (11) show that in infected individuals the parasite influences the synthesis of neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine, which can lead to personality changes, psychotic symptoms, and in some cases neurological and psychiatric disorders. Behavioral changes and cognitive disorders have been observed in infected rodents.…”