Relationship of Toxoplasma Antibodies to Altitude *

Walton, Bryce C.; Arjona, Irma; Benchoff, Barbara M.

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.1966.15.492

Cited by 30 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…In particular, climate can alter exposure risk. Oocysts live longer in humid, low altitude regions, especially at mid-latitudes with infrequent freezing and thawing (Walton et al 1966;Dubey 1974;Dubey & Beattie 1988). The resulting geographical variation in the risk of T. gondii in humans could indirectly lead to geographical variation in cultural dimensions, potentially explaining the observation of a greater differentiation of sex roles in warm countries (Hofstede 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can the common brain parasite,Toxoplasma gondii, influence human culture?

Lafferty

2006

Proc. R. Soc. B.

136

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The latent prevalence of a long-lived and common brain parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, explains a statistically significant portion of the variance in aggregate neuroticism among populations, as well as in the 'neurotic' cultural dimensions of sex roles and uncertainty avoidance. Spurious or non-causal correlations between aggregate personality and aspects of climate and culture that influence T. gondii transmission could also drive these patterns. A link between culture and T. gondii hypothetically results from a behavioural manipulation that the parasite uses to increase its transmission to the next host in the life cycle: a cat. While latent toxoplasmosis is usually benign, the parasite's subtle effect on individual personality appears to alter the aggregate personality at the population level. Drivers of the geographical variation in the prevalence of this parasite include the effects of climate on the persistence of infectious stages in soil, the cultural practices of food preparation and cats as pets. Some variation in culture, therefore, may ultimately be related to how climate affects the distribution of T. gondii, though the results only explain a fraction of the variation in two of the four cultural dimensions, suggesting that if T. gondii does influence human culture, it is only one among many factors.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can the common brain parasite,Toxoplasma gondii, influence human culture?

Lafferty

2006

Proc. R. Soc. B.

136

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“…Latitudinal variability in the geoseroprevalence of the parasite may be due to local rainy conditions (because oocysts live longer in humid conditions), and low altitude regions (especially at mid-latitudes); a north-south seroprevalence gradient has also been reported in animals [9], [95], [96].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toxoplasmosis – A Global Threat. Correlation of Latent Toxoplasmosis with Specific Disease Burden in a Set of 88 Countries

et al. 2014

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BackgroundToxoplasmosis is becoming a global health hazard as it infects 30–50% of the world human population. Clinically, the life-long presence of the parasite in tissues of a majority of infected individuals is usually considered asymptomatic. However, a number of studies show that this ‘asymptomatic infection’ may also lead to development of other human pathologies.Aims of the StudyThe purpose of the study was to collect available geoepidemiological data on seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and search for its relationship with mortality and disability rates in different countries.Methods and FindingsPrevalence data published between 1995–2008 for women in child-bearing age were collected for 88 countries (29 European). The association between prevalence of toxoplasmosis and specific disease burden estimated with age-standardized Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) or with mortality, was calculated using General Linear Method with Gross Domestic Product per capita (GDP), geolatitude and humidity as covariates, and also using nonparametric partial Kendall correlation test with GDP as a covariate. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis correlated with specific disease burden in particular countries explaining 23% of variability in disease burden in Europe. The analyses revealed that for example, DALY of 23 of 128 analyzed diseases and disease categories on the WHO list showed correlations (18 positive, 5 negative) with prevalence of toxoplasmosis and another 12 diseases showed positive trends (p<0.1). For several obtained significant correlations between the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis and specific diseases/clinical entities, possible pathophysiological, biochemical and molecular explanations are presented.ConclusionsThe seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis correlated with various disease burden. Statistical associations does not necessarily mean causality. The precautionary principle suggests however that possible role of toxoplasmosis as a triggering factor responsible for development of several clinical entities deserves much more attention and financial support both in everyday medical practice and future clinical research.

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“…[8][9][10][11] The prevalence of T. gondii varies greatly in populations throughout the world (from < 10% to > 90%) and is thought to be affected by food-production practices, water treatment, climate, topography, soil-and cat feces-related hygiene, occupational and non-occupational soil exposure, and culinary practices. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] In the United States, there are an estimated 400-4000 congenital infections per year, 20 up to 1.26 million cases of ocular disease, 1 and numerous cases of encephalitis and other systemic illnesses in immune-suppressed persons. Regardless of the source of infection, a reduction in the prevalence of T. gondii infection in the population will lead to many fewer cases of debilitating disease.…”

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confidence: 99%

Toxoplasma gondii Infection in the United States, 1999–2004, Decline from the Prior Decade

et al. 2007

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Toxoplasma gondii can cause congenital, neurologic, ocular, and mild or asymptomatic infection. To determine the U.S. prevalence of T. gondii infection, we tested sera collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 for T. gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies in persons 6-49 years old and contrasted the results to those comparable in NHANES III (1988-1994) (ages 12-49 years). Of the 17,672 persons examined in NHANES 1999-2004, 15,960 (90%) were tested. The age-adjusted T. gondii seroprevalence among persons 6-49 years old was 10.8% (95% confidence limits [CL] 9.6%, 11.9%), and among women 15-44 years old, 11.0% (95% CL 9.5%, 12.4%). T. gondii seroprevalence declined from 14.1% to 9.0% (P < 0.001) from NHANES III to NHANES 1999-2004 among U.S.-born persons ages 12-49 years. Although T. gondii infects many persons in the U.S., the prevalence has declined in the past decade.

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Relationship of Toxoplasma Antibodies to Altitude *

Cited by 30 publications

References 0 publications

Can the common brain parasite,Toxoplasma gondii, influence human culture?

Can the common brain parasite,Toxoplasma gondii, influence human culture?

Toxoplasmosis – A Global Threat. Correlation of Latent Toxoplasmosis with Specific Disease Burden in a Set of 88 Countries

Toxoplasma gondii Infection in the United States, 1999–2004, Decline from the Prior Decade

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