Toxoplasma Gondii Infection and Depression: A Case—Control Seroprevalence Study

Alvarado‐Esquivel, Cosme; Sánchez‐Anguiano, Luis Francisco; Hernández‐Tinoco, Jesús; Berumen-Segovia, Luis Omar; Torres-Prieto, Yazmin Elizabeth; Estrada-Martínez, Sergio; Pérez-Álamos, Alma Rosa; Ortiz-Jurado, María Nalleli; Molotla-de-León, Gabriel; Beristaín-Garcia, Isabel; Rábago-Sánchez, Elizabeth; Liesenfeld, Oliver

doi:10.1556/1886.2016.00010

Cited by 29 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(29 reference statements)

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“…The results of our study point toward an association between certain cardinal depressive symptoms and anti- T. gondii IgG antibodies, which is consistent with the results of some previous studies in psychiatric patients [26], women Veterans [27] and women evaluated for prenatal depression [28]. …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

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Positive association between Toxoplasma gondii IgG serointensity and current dysphoria/hopelessness scores in the Old Order Amish: a preliminary study

et al. 2017

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AbstractToxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) IgG seropositivity and serointensity have been previously associated with suicidal self-directed violence (SSDV). Although associations with unipolar depression have also been investigated, the results have been inconsistent, possibly as a consequence of high heterogeneity. We have now studied this association in a more homogeneous population, [that is (i.e.) Old Order Amish (OOA)] with previously reported high T. gondii seroprevalence. In 306 OOA with a mean age of 46.1±16.7 years, including 191 (62.4%) women in the Amish Wellness Study, we obtained both T. gondii IgG titers (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), and depression screening questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] [n=280] and PHQ-2 [n=26]). Associations between T. gondii IgG and dysphoria/hopelessness and anhedonia scores on depression screening questionnaires were analyzed using multivariable linear methods with adjustment for age and sex. Serointensity was associated with both current dysphoria/hopelessness (p=0.045) and current combined anhedonia and dysphoria/hopelessness (p=0.043), while associations with simple anhedonia and past/lifelong (rather than current) phenotypes were not significant. These results indicate the need for larger longitudinal studies to corroborate the association between dysphoria/hopelessness and T. gondii IgG-titers. Current hopelessness is a known risk factor for SSDV which responds particularly well to cognitive behavioral therapy, and may be a focused treatment target for T. gondii-positive individuals at high-risk for SSDV.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Chronic T. gondii infection has also been associated with depression in psychiatric patients [26], women Veterans [27] and pregnant women [28]. However, several other studies found no association between T. gondii infection and depression [23,29–32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive association between Toxoplasma gondii IgG serointensity and current dysphoria/hopelessness scores in the Old Order Amish: a preliminary study

et al. 2017

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“…Alvarado-Esquivel et al . 14) found no statistical differences with respect to T. gondii between suicide attempters and normal controls. But, they also reported that higher T. gondii antibody titers were related to the risk of suicidal behavior.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

The Association between Suicide Attempts andToxoplasma gondiiInfection

Bak

Shim

Kwon

et al. 2018

Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci

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ObjectiveChronic ‘latent’ infection by Toxoplasma gondii is common and most of the hosts have minimal symptoms or they are even asymptomatic. However, there are possible mechanisms by which T. gondii may affect human behavior and it may also cause humans to attempt suicide. This article aimed to investigate the potential pathophysiological relationship between suicide attempts and T. gondii infection in Korea.MethodsOne hundred fifty-five psychiatric patients with a history of suicide attempt and 135 healthy control individuals were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassays and fluorescent antibody technique for T. gondii seropositivity and antibody titers. The group of suicide attempters was interviewed regarding the history of suicide attempt during lifetime and evaluated using 17-item Korean version of Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Korean-Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS).ResultsImmunoglobulin G antibodies were found in 21 of the 155 suicide attempters and in 8 of the 135 controls (p=0.011). The Toxoplasma-seropositive suicide attempters had a higher HAMD score on the depressed mood and feeling of guilt subscales and a higher total score than the seronegative suicide attempters. T. gondii seropositive status was associated with higher C-SSRS in the severity and lethality subscales. T. gondii IgG seropositivity was significantly associated with higher STAI-X1 scores in the suicide attempters group.ConclusionSuicide attempters showed higher seroprevalence of T. gondii than healthy controls. Among the suicide attempters, the T. gondii seropositive and seronegative groups showed several differences in the aspects of suicide. These results suggested a significant association between T. gondii infection and psychiatric problems in suicidality.

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“… 3 However, individuals who develop toxoplasmosis, the disease caused by T. gondii , may present several well-recognized clinical features: lymphadenopathy, chorioretinitis, and meningoencephalitis. 4 , 5 In addition, infection with T. gondii has been associated with heart disease, 6 , 7 schizophrenia, 8 , 9 depression, 10 , 11 and mixed anxiety and depression. 12 Immunocompromised individuals infected with T. gondii may develop disseminated and life-threatening disease.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and history of blood transfusion: a case-control seroprevalence study

et al. 2018

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ObjectivesThis study was performed to determine the association between seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii and a history of blood transfusion.MethodsPatients who had undergone blood transfusion (n = 410) and age- and sex-matched controls who had not undergone blood transfusion (n = 1230) were examined for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassays.ResultsAnti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 57 (13.9%) patients and in 129 (10.5%) controls with a borderline difference [odds ratio (OR) = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.98–1.92]. High anti-T. gondii IgG antibody levels (>150 IU/mL) were found in 27 (47.4%) of the 57 anti-T. gondii IgG-positive patients and in 37 (28.7%) of the 129 anti-T. gondii IgG positive controls with a significant difference (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.17–4.26). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in 13 (22.8%) of the 57 seropositive patients and in 37 (28.7%) of the 129 seropositive controls, but the difference was not significant (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.35–1.52). Seroprevalence was significantly higher in patients aged >50 years than in controls of the same age and in female patients than in female controls.ConclusionsThese findings indicate that a history of blood transfusion is a risk factor for T. gondii infection.

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Toxoplasma Gondii Infection and Depression: A Case—Control Seroprevalence Study

Cited by 29 publications

References 24 publications

Positive association between Toxoplasma gondii IgG serointensity and current dysphoria/hopelessness scores in the Old Order Amish: a preliminary study

Positive association between Toxoplasma gondii IgG serointensity and current dysphoria/hopelessness scores in the Old Order Amish: a preliminary study

The Association between Suicide Attempts andToxoplasma gondiiInfection

Association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and history of blood transfusion: a case-control seroprevalence study

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