Toxoplasma gondii IgG associations with sleepwake problems, sleep duration and timing

Corona, Celine C.; Zhang, Man; Wadhawan, Abhishek; Daue, Melanie; Groër, Maureen; Dagdag, Aline; Lowry, Christopher A.; Hoisington, Andrew J.; Ryan, Kathleen A.; Stiller, John W.; Fuchs, Dietmar; Mitchell, Braxton D.; Postolache, Teodor T.

doi:10.1515/pteridines-2019-0001

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…There also was no association found between T. gondii and sleepiness or sleep apnea in obese patients [ 152 ]. Indeed, in a study conducted by Corona et al, T. gondii seropositivity was linked to less sleep problems [ 153 ]. Taken together, there is no significant evidence of T. gondii associated with sleep disturbances.…”

Section: Methodology and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurological and Neurobehavioral Disorders Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Humans

Virus

Ehrhorn

Lui

et al. 2021

Journal of Parasitology Research

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The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is estimated to infect up to 30% of the world population, leading to lifelong chronic infection of the brain and muscle tissue. Although most latent T. gondii infections in humans have traditionally been considered asymptomatic, studies in rodents suggest phenotypic neurological changes are possible. Consequently, several studies have examined the link between T. gondii infection and diseases such as schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression, bipolar disorder, dysphoria, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). To date, there is varying evidence of the relationship of T. gondii to these human neurological or neurobehavioral disorders. A thorough review of T. gondii literature was conducted to highlight and summarize current findings. We found that schizophrenia was most frequently linked to T. gondii infection, while sleep disruption showed no linkage to T. gondii infection, and other conditions having mixed support for a link to T. gondii. However, infection as a cause of human neurobehavioral disease has yet to be firmly established.

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Section: Methodology and Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurological and Neurobehavioral Disorders Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Humans

Virus

Ehrhorn

Lui

et al. 2021

Journal of Parasitology Research

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“…We are not aware of similar experiments. The few previous studies addressing the question in patients were limited by the use of indirect outcomes such as sleep apnea or daytime sleepiness, 34 or sleep self‐report, 35 and by the need to rely on a single anti‐ Tg IgG test to recognize infected subjects, precluding any estimation regarding time elapsed since infection.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection and sleep‐wake alterations in mice

et al. 2021

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Aim Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) is an intracellular parasite infecting more than a third of the human population. Yet, the impact of Tg infection on sleep, a highly sensitive index of brain functions, remains unknown. We designed an experimental mouse model of chronic Tg infection to assess the effects on sleep‐wake states. Methods Mice were infected using cysts of the type II Prugniaud strain. We performed chronic sleep‐wake recordings and monitoring as well as EEG power spectral density analysis in order to assess the quantitative and qualitative changes of sleep‐wake states. Pharmacological approach was combined to evaluate the direct impact of the infection and inflammation caused by Tg. Results Infected mouse exhibited chronic sleep‐wake alterations over months, characterized by a marked increase (>20%) in time spent awake and in cortical EEG θ power density of all sleep‐wake states. Meanwhile, slow‐wave sleep decreased significantly. These effects were alleviated by an anti‐inflammatory treatment using corticosteroid dexamethasone. Conclusion We demonstrated for the first time the direct consequences of Tg infection on sleep‐wake states. The persistently increased wakefulness and reduced sleep fit with the parasite's strategy to enhance dissemination through host predation and are of significance in understanding the neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders reported in infected patients.

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“…However, our results were disappointing, with no significant detrimental association of sleep problems with T. gondii serology. In fact, T. gondii-seropositive Amish individuals reported less sleep problems and daytime problems due to poor sleep, and longer, rather than shorter sleep duration, with earlier mid-sleep time and bedtime (154). It is possible, just as with allergies, that certain strains or mode of infection (e.g., tissue cyst vs. oocyst) of T. gondii in specific undetermined conditions and for certain phenotypes, serves as a microbial "Old Friend" -modulating immune responses, and thus, reducing downstream effects of chronic low-grade immune activation.…”

Section: Sleep and Wake Abnormalitiesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Toxoplasma gondii, Suicidal Behavior, and Intermediate Phenotypes for Suicidal Behavior

Postolache

Wadhawan

Rujescu³

et al. 2021

Front. Psychiatry

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Within the general literature on infections and suicidal behavior, studies on Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) occupy a central position. This is related to the parasite's neurotropism, high prevalence of chronic infection, as well as specific and non-specific behavioral alterations in rodents that lead to increased risk taking, which are recapitulated in humans by T. gondii's associations with suicidal behavior, as well as trait impulsivity and aggression, mental illness and traffic accidents. This paper is a detailed review of the associations between T. gondii serology and suicidal behavior, a field of study that started 15 years ago with our publication of associations between T. gondii IgG serology and suicidal behavior in persons with mood disorders. This “legacy” article presents, chronologically, our primary studies in individuals with mood disorders and schizophrenia in Germany, recent attempters in Sweden, and in a large cohort of mothers in Denmark. Then, it reviews findings from all three meta-analyses published to date, confirming our reported associations and overall consistent in effect size [ranging between 39 and 57% elevation of odds of suicide attempt in T. gondii immunoglobulin (IgG) positives]. Finally, the article introduces certain links between T. gondii and biomarkers previously associated with suicidal behavior (kynurenines, phenylalanine/tyrosine), intermediate phenotypes of suicidal behavior (impulsivity, aggression) and state-dependent suicide risk factors (hopelessness/dysphoria, sleep impairment). In sum, an abundance of evidence supports a positive link between suicide attempts (but not suicidal ideation) and T. gondii IgG (but not IgM) seropositivity and serointensity. Trait impulsivity and aggression, endophenotypes of suicidal behavior have also been positively associated with T. gondii seropositivity in both the psychiatrically healthy as well as in patients with Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Yet, causality has not been demonstrated. Thus, randomized interventional studies are necessary to advance causal inferences and, if causality is confirmed, to provide hope that an etiological treatment for a distinct subgroup of individuals at an increased risk for suicide could emerge.

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Toxoplasma gondii IgG associations with sleepwake problems, sleep duration and timing

Cited by 6 publications

References 90 publications

Neurological and Neurobehavioral Disorders Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Humans

Neurological and Neurobehavioral Disorders Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Humans

Chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection and sleep‐wake alterations in mice

Toxoplasma gondii, Suicidal Behavior, and Intermediate Phenotypes for Suicidal Behavior

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