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Muacevic A, Adler JR, Shbeeli KA, Al Suhaym AY, Khormi BH, Faqihi IH, Hadi IH, Kulaybi KM, Mawkili SI. Association Between Childhood Exposure to Pet Cats and Later Diagnosis of Schizophrenia: A Case-Control Study in Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2022; 14:e32401. [PMID: 36636540 PMCID: PMC9831139 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.32401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing number of reports suggesting an effect of adverse environmental factors during vulnerable periods of prenatal and perinatal development in the etiology of schizophrenia. Cat-transmitted infections, especially Toxoplasma gondii, are possible risk factors for the later development of schizophrenia. We conducted a case-control study to examine childhood cat ownership in 78 patients with schizophrenia (cases), 78 outpatients with depression and anxiety disorders (control group one), and 78 outpatients with no psychiatric history (control group two). Cat ownership before the age of 13 was reported by 52.6%, 44.9%, and 24.4% of patients in cases, control group one, and control group two, respectively. Compared with non-psychiatric patients, patients with schizophrenia were 3.4 times more likely to report owning cats in their childhood (odds ratio (OR)=3.441; p=0.000; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.740-6.804). Compared with both control groups, the likelihood of owning a cat as a child was 2.1 times more among cases (OR=2.093; p=0.008; 95% CI=1.203-3.640). Age, female gender, and family history appeared to be positively associated with cat ownership and schizophrenia. This study supports the evidence of a relationship between childhood exposure to pet cats and the later development of schizophrenia. Further in-depth research is needed to clarify the relationship between exposure to pet cats in childhood and later diagnosis of schizophrenia, adjusting for potential confounders.
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Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Infection in the Population Referred to Rural and Urban Health Care Centers in Zahedan, Primary Referral Level, in Southeastern Iran. J Parasitol Res 2022; 2022:7311905. [PMID: 35601215 PMCID: PMC9119769 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7311905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Toxoplasmosis is one of the protozoan diseases caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This study is aimed at evaluating the seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the population referred to rural and urban health care centers in Zahedan, southeast Iran. Methods. A total of 1,324 blood samples of patients referred to the health care centers were evaluated using the IgG Toxoplasma ELISA Kit, between October 2019 and August 2021. The obtained data were analyzed through univariable and multivariable regression models. Results. The seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii infection was obtained at 18.8%. In the multivariable logistic regression model, risk factors including age group of 11-30 (
, 95% CI: 1.29-7.06), urban residency (
, 95% CI: 2.9-6.3), students (
, 95% CI: 1.88-4.53), and contact with cat (
, 95% CI: 4.76-12.36) were significantly associated with seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii infection. Moreover, consumption of washed vegetables with salt or detergents decreases (
, 95% CI: 0.09-0.23) the risk of Toxoplasma gondii infection. According to the results of the multivariable logistic regression, no significant association was observed between seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii and other risk factors. Conclusion. The results of this study indicated significant seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii infection in the population referred to rural and urban health care centers in Zahedan, Iran. Therefore, health programs should be considered for raising awareness regarding the risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in this region.
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Kazemi F, Sayyah M, Tavalla M, Arjmand R. Toxoplasmosis in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patients. Acta Parasitol 2022; 67:356-361. [PMID: 34617192 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-021-00471-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The current study was done to evaluate the relationship between T. gondii and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in treatment-resistant patients with OCD in comparison with treatment-sensitive patients with OCD. METHODS A total of 180 subjects were selected, including 90 patients with OCD and 90 control participants. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against T. gondii were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Detection of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis was carried out using the ELISA IgG avidity. In addition, the presence of this parasite in blood was detected using the nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. RESULTS Regarding T. gondii IgG antibodies 42 (46.7%) and 17 (18.9%) cases were detected in the patients and controls, respectively (P = 0.000). Also, 16 (17.8%) and 5 (5.6%) cases were positive for B1 gene in patients and controls, respectively (P = 0.018). The antibodies were found to be related to risk of OCD [OR (95% CI) = 3.71 (1.88-7.30); P < 0.001]. Moreover, out of 90 patients, 35 and 55 cases were resistant and sensitive to treatment, respectively, so that 24 (68.6%) out of 35 and 18 (32.7%) out of 55 were positive for the antibodies (P = 0.01) as well as 11 (31.4%) out of 35 and 5 (9.1%) out of 55 were positive for B1 gene (P = 0.010). The antibodies were also associated with risk of resistance to treatment in patients with OCD [OR (95% CI) = 3.81 (1.42-10.17); P = 0.008]. CONCLUSION Our findings showed that toxoplasmosis was more frequent in patients with OCD than the control group. In addition, prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in treatment-resistant patients with OCD was significantly more than that in treatment-sensitive patients with OCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Forough Kazemi
- Student Research Committee, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sayyah
- Education Development Center (EDC), Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Tavalla
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Reza Arjmand
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
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Teimouri A, Nassrullah OJ, Hedayati P, Bahreini MS, Alimi R, Mohtasebi S, Salemi AM, Asgari Q. Prevalence and Predictors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Psychiatric Inpatients in Fars Province, Southern Iran. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:891603. [PMID: 35774089 PMCID: PMC9237562 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.891603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychiatric patients are at increased risk of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii infection, which may be linked to their living facilities and behaviors. Limited knowledge on the prevalence of T. gondii infection and its associated risk factors in psychiatric patients are available to the international medical communities. Thus, the aim of the current study was to assess seroprevalence of T. gondii and its associated risk factors in psychiatric inpatients in Fars Province, southern Iran. METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out on psychiatric patients hospitalized in Ibn Sina Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Fars Province, southern Iran, March to July 2021. Blood samples were collected from 318 psychiatric patients and assessed for the detection of IgG against T. gondii using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Moreover, structured questionnaires were completed for the participants at the time of sampling. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess possible associations between the latent toxoplasmosis and the variables. RESULTS The overall seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG in psychiatric inpatients was 22.3% (71/318; 95% CI = 17.9-27.3). Multivariate analyses revealed that age > 30 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.10-4.60, p = 0.03], contact with cats (AOR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.14-5.58, p = 0.03), raw vegetable consumption (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI = 1.74-7.65, p = 0.001), raw/undercooked meat consumption (AOR = 4.30, 95% CI = 1.47-12.63, p = 0.008), suicide attempt (AOR = 3.77, 95% CI = 1.58-8.97, p = 0.003) and cigarette smoking history (AOR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.17-0.83, p = 0.02) were independent risk factors for T. gondii infection. CONCLUSION The current results demonstrated that contact with cats, raw vegetable consumption and raw/undercooked meat consumption were independent risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity. Moreover, the current study showed significant associations between seropositivity of T. gondii and suicide attempts as well as negative associations between seropositivity of T. gondii and cigarette smoking in psychiatric inpatients using multivariate logistic regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aref Teimouri
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Othman Jamal Nassrullah
- Department of Clinic and Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
| | - Pouya Hedayati
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Saleh Bahreini
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Rasoul Alimi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Sina Mohtasebi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Masoud Salemi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Qasem Asgari
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Is Toxoplasma gondii Infection Associated with Sexual Promiscuity? A Cross-Sectional Study. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111393. [PMID: 34832549 PMCID: PMC8625733 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We determined the association between T. gondii seropositivity and a history of sexual promiscuity. The study included 3933 people (mean age: 41.81 ± 14.31 years) who attended public health facilities. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect data. Enzyme immunoassays were used to determine anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 57 (18.1%) of 315 individuals with sexual promiscuity and in 374 (10.3%) of 3618 individuals without this practice (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.41–2.60; p < 0.0001). High (>150 IU/mL) levels of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 29 (9.2%) of the 315 participants with sexual promiscuity and in 167 (4.6%) of the 3618 participants without this history (OR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.38–3.16; p = 0.0003). The association of sexual promiscuity with T. gondii seropositivity and serointensity was observed in men but not in women. Sexual promiscuity was associated with T. gondii seropositivity in all age groups studied (≤30 years, 31–50 years, and >50 years) and with T. gondii serointensity in two age groups (≤30 years, and >50 years). No difference in the frequencies of anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies among the groups was found. Our findings indicate that T. gondii seropositivity and serointensity are associated with sexual promiscuity.
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Virus MA, Ehrhorn EG, Lui LM, Davis PH. Neurological and Neurobehavioral Disorders Associated with Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Humans. J Parasitol Res 2021; 2021:6634807. [PMID: 34712493 PMCID: PMC8548174 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6634807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
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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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell A. Virus
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Evie G. Ehrhorn
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - LeeAnna M. Lui
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Paul H. Davis
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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Hlaváčová J, Flegr J, Řežábek K, Calda P, Kaňková Š. Male-to-Female Presumed Transmission of Toxoplasmosis Between Sexual Partners. Am J Epidemiol 2021; 190:386-392. [PMID: 32929444 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread human parasitoses in developed countries. Sexual transmission has been confirmed in several animal species, and indirect evidence suggests it may occur in humans. We compared the seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii in couples who visited the Center for Assisted Reproduction in Prague from June 2016 to June 2018 and analyzed various risk factors including the serological status of sexual partner. By comparing the risk factors in men and women, we tested the hypothesis of male-to-female sexual transmission of toxoplasmosis. The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in women with infected male partners (25.6%; n = 156) was higher than in women with uninfected male partners (18.2%; n = 477; P = 0.045). Therefore, a partner's seropositivity seems to be a risk factor for infection in women (n = 593; prevalence ratio = 1.418; P = 0.045) but not in men (n = 573; prevalence ratio = 1.058; P = 0.816). Our results support the hypothesis of the sexual transmission of T. gondii from men to women. The risk may seem relatively low, but transmission can occur during unprotected sexual intercourse, which may be at the time of conception. Because of the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis, a lower risk of infection than that observed in our study can represent a serious health problem.
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Is Toxoplasma gondii a potential risk factor for Alzheimer's disease? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Microb Pathog 2019; 137:103751. [PMID: 31536800 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a major public health concern due to neurotropic nature and role in the development of mental and behavioral disorders. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an important nervous disease that results in the reduction of the amount of beta-amyloid plaque deposition and irreversible loss of neurons in the brain. Although a few studies evaluated the association between AD and toxoplasmosis, the present study as a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies investigated the possible association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and AD. A systematic literature search was conducted using seven electronic databases from the inception to 25th of November 2018 with no restriction of language that looked at toxoplasmosis (as an exposure) and AD (as a disease). The random effect model was used to determine the total odds ratio (OR) and total p-value. Generally, eight studies containing 3239 subjects (360 patients and 2879 controls) met the eligibility criteria. Then, eight articles were used for meta-analysis with respect to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results of the meta-analysis (random effect model) showed a common OR of 1.53 (95% CI: 1.07-2.18). Despite the fact that there was no evidence of publication bias (P = 0.079) using formal statistical test, the visual inspection of the funnel graph suggested that the observed effect was fueled mainly by three studies with large effects (and large standard errors). Moreover, the file-drawer effect (i.e. publishing mainly studies with positive results) might play a role in the phenomenon. Results of this meta-analytic study suggested that T. gondii can be considered a risk factor for the development of AD and exacerbation of its symptoms. However, the number of published relevant studies is still relatively low, and the risk of the presence of publication bias is relatively high. Therefore, the investigation of the clinically important question of the possible association between toxoplasmosis and AD definitively deserves further attention.
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Achaw B, Tesfa H, Zeleke AJ, Worku L, Addisu A, Yigzaw N, Tegegne Y. Sero-prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors among psychiatric outpatients attending University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. BMC Infect Dis 2019; 19:581. [PMID: 31272401 PMCID: PMC6610991 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-4234-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasmosis is caused by an obligatory intracellular coccidian protozoan organism, Toxoplasma gondii. It has a worldwide distribution, affecting one-third of the world population. Psychiatric patients have a higher risk of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii infection due to lack of good personal hygiene. The burden of toxoplasmosis among psychiatric patients in Ethiopia has not been studied extensively. Thus, the study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and associated risk factors among psychiatric outpatients at the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital Psychiatric clinic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar Comprehensive and Specialized Hospital from February to May 2018. Venous blood was collected from 304 study participants (152 psychiatric outpatients and 152 control groups). Anti-toxoplasma antibodies were determined using Onsite Toxo immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) Rapid Test. A Chi-square test was carried out to compare the two groups and a logistic regression analysis was conducted to check the association between variables. P-value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results The seroprevalence rate of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies was 33.6, and 16.4% in the psychiatric outpatients and the control samples, respectively. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM sero-prevalence was 1.3% in the former patients and 3.9% in the latter group. Owing cat (AOR = 2.862 95% CI = 1.445–5.666 P = 0.003), cleaning cat excreta (AOR = 2.966 95% CI = 1.317–2.652 P = 0.007), and farming (AOR = 2.058 95% CI = 1.018–4.163 P = 0.045) were found to be significantly associated with the sero-prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody. Conclusions This study highlighted that, the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies was significantly higher in psychiatric outpatients than the control group (p = 0.001). Cat ownership, cleaning of cat excreta, and farming were found to be statistically significantly associated with the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barnabas Achaw
- Universit of Gondar Hospital, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Habtie Tesfa
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Ayalew Jejaw Zeleke
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Ligabaw Worku
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Ayenew Addisu
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Niguse Yigzaw
- Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Yalewayker Tegegne
- Department of Medical Parasitology, School of Biomedical and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
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Nayeri Chegeni T, Sharif M, Sarvi S, Moosazadeh M, Montazeri M, Aghayan SA, Balalami NJ, Gholami S, Hosseininejad Z, Saberi R, Anvari D, Gohardehi S, Daryani A. Is there any association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and depression? A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218524. [PMID: 31194852 PMCID: PMC6564815 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular opportunistic parasite that is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. This parasite accounts for mental disorders; however, the relationship between T. gondii infection and depressive disorder is unclear. Regarding this, the present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the scientific evidence regarding the potential association between major depression disorder (MDD) and Toxoplasma infection. METHODS For the purpose of the study, the articles related to the subject of interest were systematically searched in seven electronic databases. Special attention was given to the studies examining T. gondii seropositivity level in depressed patients and controls. RESULTS The search process resulted in the identification of a total of 30 publications meeting the inclusion criteria and published up to April 2018 for the systematic review. Furthermore, 29 studies met the inclusion criteria to be entered into meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis involved the review of cross-sectional studies including 1657 depressed patients and 19565 individuals as controls and case-control studies entailing 1311 depressed cases and 6015 controls without depression. 1582 depressed people participated in cross-sectional studies whose results were reported as odds ratio (OR). In addition, the total number of participants was 15068 in this type of studies. Statistical analysis indicated that the pooled OR of the risk of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody in depressed individuals in case-control and cross-sectional studies was 1.15 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.95-1.39). CONCLUSIONS As the findings of the reviewed articles indicated, toxoplasmosis is not a risk factor for MDD. However, it is necessary to perform further research to clarify the detailed association between T. gondii and dysthymia or mild and moderate depression. Furthermore, it is recommended to better investigate the effect of antibody titers on the relationship between depression and T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tooran Nayeri Chegeni
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sharif
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahmood Moosazadeh
- Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahbobeh Montazeri
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Sargis A. Aghayan
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | | | - Shirzad Gholami
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Zahra Hosseininejad
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Reza Saberi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Davood Anvari
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shaban Gohardehi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Relationship between toxoplasmosis and obsessive compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007306. [PMID: 30969961 PMCID: PMC6457543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A few studies investigated the relationship between toxoplasmosis and mental disorders, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the specific nature of the association between Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection and OCD is not yet clear. The aim of this study was to collect information on the relationship between OCD and toxoplasmosis and assess whether patients with toxoplasmosis are prone to OCD. Methods For the purpose of this study, 6 major electronic databases and the Internet search engine Google Scholar were searched for the published articles up to July 30th, 2018 with no restriction of language. The inverse variance method and the random effect model were used to combine the data. The values of odds ratio (OR) were estimated at 95% confidence interval (CI). Results A total of 9 case-control and 3 cross-sectional studies were included in our systematic review. However, 11 of these 12 articles were entered into the meta-analysis containing 9873 participants, out of whom 389 were with OCD (25.96% positive for toxoplasmosis) and 9484 were without OCD (17.12% positive for toxoplasmosis). The estimation of the random effect model indicated a significant common OR of 1.96 [95% CI: 1.32–2.90]. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis revealed that toxoplasmosis could be as an associated factor for OCD (OR = 1.96). However, further prospective investigations are highly recommended to illuminate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of T. gondii infection in OCD and to better investigate the relationship between OCD and T. gondii infection. Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate neurotropic parasite that infected about 25–30% of the total human population in the developed and developing countries. The obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disease that affects the income and quality of life. Some studies confirmed an association between infectious agents as the associated or protective factors specifying the development of psychiatry diseases. Among various pathogens associated with psychological disorders, most of the attention is on T. gondii, which has a life-long asymptomatic latent phase after a short acute stage in healthy individuals. The detrimental effect of T. gondii on immunocompromised people and pregnant women is an important concern for public health. The correlation between toxoplasmosis and OCD is still relatively understudied with a paucity of documented findings. The previous meta-analysis reviewed only two studies and reported a 3.4-fold greater chance of OCD. The results of our study presented stronger evidence of a positive relationship between toxoplasmosis and OCD. Eventually, our research team hopes to present an overview of what is known and encourage more intensive research to determine the real impact of this parasite on the occurrence of OCD that may contribute to the prevention of OCD worldwide.
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Estrada-Martínez S, Pérez-Alamos AR. A Case-Control Seroprevalence Study on the Association Between Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Bipolar Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:766. [PMID: 31708819 PMCID: PMC6823190 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims: Infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with bipolar disorder in several countries other than Mexico. Therefore, we sought to determine the association between seropositivity to T. gondii and bipolar disorder in a Mexican population. Methods: We performed an age- and gender-matched case-control study of 66 patients with bipolar disorder (WHO International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision code: F31) and 396 subjects without this disorder from the general population. Anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies were determined using commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays. Results: Six (9.1%) of the 66 patients with bipolar disorder and 22 (5.6%) of the 396 controls had anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66-4.36; P = 0.26). Stratification by gender and age did not show a difference in seroprevalence between cases and controls. The frequency of high (> 150 international units/ml) anti-T. gondii IgG levels was similar in cases (n = 2) and in controls (n = 12) (OR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.21-4.57; P = 1.00). Stratification by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision F31 codes showed that patients with F31.3 code had a higher seroprevalence of T. gondii infection than their age- and gender-matched controls (OR = 16.4; 95% CI = 1.25-215.09; P = 0.04). None of the six anti-T. gondii IgG-seropositive patients with bipolar disorder and 4 (18.2%) of the 22 anti-T. gondii IgG-seropositive controls had anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies (P = 0.54). Conclusions: Our results suggest that T. gondii seropositivity is not associated with bipolar disorder in general. However, a specific type of bipolar disorder (F31.3) might be associated with T. gondii seropositivity. Further research to elucidate the role of T. gondii infection in bipolar disorder is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sergio Estrada-Martínez
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico
| | - Alma Rosa Pérez-Alamos
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Hernández-Tinoco J, Ramos-Nevarez A, Estrada-Martínez S, Cerrillo-Soto SM, Mijarez-Hernández MA, Guido-Arreola CA, Pérez-Álamos AR, Beristain-Garcia I, Rábago-Sánchez E. Toxoplasma Gondii Infection and a History of Surgery: A Case Control Seroprevalence Study. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2018; 8:155-158. [PMID: 30719333 PMCID: PMC6348708 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2018.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We determined the association between having a history of surgery and the seroreactivity to T. gondii. An age- and gender-matched case-control study of 391 subjects with a history of surgery and 391 subjects without this history was performed. Sera of subjects were analyzed for detection of anti-T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassays. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 25 (6.4%) of the 391 cases and in 21 (5.4%) of the 391 controls (odds ratio [OR] = 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66-2.18; P = 0.54). The frequency of cases with high IgG antibody levels (10/25: 40.0%) was equal to that found in controls (8/21: 38.1%) (OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 0.32-3.56; P = 0.89). Of the 25 anti-T. gondii IgG antibody seropositive cases, 5 (16.0%) were also positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Meanwhile, of the 21 anti-T. gondii IgG antibody seropositive controls, 4 (19.0%) were also positive for anti-T gondii IgM antibodies (OR = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.17-3.72; P = 0.80). Logistic regression showed that only the variable "hysterectomy" was associated with T. gondii seropositivity (OR = 4.6; 95% CI: 1.6-13.4; P = 0.005). Results suggest that having a history of surgery is not an important risk factor for infection with T. gondii. However, the link between T. gondii infection and hysterectomy should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sánchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm ", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm ", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Agar Ramos-Nevarez
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - Sergio Estrada-Martínez
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm ", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Sandra Margarita Cerrillo-Soto
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Carlos Alberto Guido-Arreola
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - Alma Rosa Pérez-Álamos
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm ", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Isabel Beristain-Garcia
- Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Juárez University of Durango State, Cuauhtémoc 223 norte, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Rábago-Sánchez
- Hospital General, Secretaría de Salud, Avenida 5 de febrero y Norman Fuentes, 34000 Durango, Mexico
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Rico-Almochantaf YDR, Hernández-Tinoco J, Quiñones-Canales G, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Torres-González J, Schott B, Liesenfeld O, Dunay IR. Toxoplasma Gondii Exposure and Neurological Disorders: An Age- and Gender-Matched Case-Control Pilot Study. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2017; 7:303-309. [PMID: 29403659 PMCID: PMC5793700 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2017.00033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the association of Toxoplasma gondii infection and neurological disorders. We performed a case-control study with 344 patients with neurological diseases and 344 neurologically healthy age- and gender-matched subjects. Sera of participants were analyzed for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially available immunoassays. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were detected in 25 (7.3%) cases and in 35 (10.2%) controls (odds ratio [OR] = 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40-1.18; P = 0.17). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in 5 (14.3%) of the 25 IgG seropositive cases and in 13 (37.1°%) of the 35 IgG seropositive controls (P = 0.15). Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 8 (3.8%) of 213 female cases and in 23 (10.8%) of 213 female controls (OR = 0.32; 95% CI: 0.14-0.73; P = 0.005); and in 17 (13.0%) of 131 male cases and in 12 (9.2%) of 131 male controls (P = 0.32). No direct association between IgG seropositivity and specific neurological disorders was detected. We found no support for a role of latent T. gondii infection in the risk for neurological disorders in this setting. With respect to specific neurological disorders, further studies using larger patient cohorts will be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Yazmin del Rosario Rico-Almochantaf
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm,” Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Quiñones-Canales
- Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales para los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sánchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research “Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm,” Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jorge Torres-González
- Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales para los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Björn Schott
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Mitte, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ildiko Rita Dunay
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg D-39120, Leipziger Str. 44, Germany
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Rico-Almochantaf YDR, Sanchez-Anguiano LF, Quinones-Canales G, Hernandez-Tinoco J, Torres-Gonzalez J, Gonzalez-Silva MF, Ramirez-Valles EG. Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Headache: A Matched Case-Control Study in a Public Hospital in Durango City, Mexico. J Clin Med Res 2017; 10:27-31. [PMID: 29238431 PMCID: PMC5722042 DOI: 10.14740/jocmr3236w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) can disseminate to brain in infected hosts. Little is known about the magnitude of the association between this infection and headache. Therefore, we sought to determine the association of T. gondii seropositivity and headache in patients attending neurological consultations in a public hospital in Durango City, Mexico. Methods Through an age- and gender-matched case-control study, 105 patients suffering from headache and 105 subjects without headache were examined for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays. Seropositive cases were analyzed for detection of T. gondii DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Results Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in five (4.8%) of the 105 cases and in seven (6.7%) of the 105 controls (odds ratio (OR) = 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21 - 2.28; P = 0.76). The frequency of high (> 150 IU/mL) levels of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies among anti-T. gondii IgG positive individuals was significantly (P = 0.01) higher in cases (5/5) than in controls (1/7). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in one (20.0%) of the five IgG seropositive cases, and in three (42.9%) of the seven IgG seropositive controls (P = 0.60). T. gondii DNA was not detected in any of the five anti-T. gondii IgG positive cases. No association between T. gondii infection and specific headache types was found. Conclusions This is the first matched case-control study on the association between T. gondii infection and headache. Results suggest that high anti-T. gondii IgG antibody levels, but not T. gondii seropositivity, were associated with headache in the population studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Yazmin Del Rosario Rico-Almochantaf
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sanchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Gerardo Quinones-Canales
- Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales para los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesus Hernandez-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jorge Torres-Gonzalez
- Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales para los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Maria Felix Gonzalez-Silva
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Veterinaria S/N, 34120 Durango, Mexico
| | - Eda Guadalupe Ramirez-Valles
- Faculty of Chemical Sciences, Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Veterinaria S/N, 34120 Durango, Mexico
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Pacheco-Vega SJ, Hernandez-Tinoco J, Berumen-Segovia LO, Sanchez-Anguiano LF, Estrada-Martinez S, Sandoval-Carrillo AA, Salas-Pacheco JM, Antuna-Salcido EI. Concordance of Toxoplasma gondii Infection Markers Among Heterosexual Couples. J Clin Med Res 2017; 9:788-792. [PMID: 28811857 PMCID: PMC5544485 DOI: 10.14740/jocmr3117w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Very little is known about concordance of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection markers among couples. Through a cross-sectional study, we sought to determine the correlation of T. gondii infection in a sample of 119 heterosexual couples in Durango State, Mexico. Methods Participants were examined for the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassays. IgG and IgM seropositive couples were further analyzed for the presence of T. gondii DNA by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 71 (59.7%) men and in 63 (52.9%) women (odds ratio (OR) = 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78 - 2.19; P = 0.29). Of the 71 seropositive men, 40 (56.3%) had a seropositive couple; in contrast, of the 63 seropositive women, 40 (63.5%) had a seropositive couple (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.37 - 1.48; P = 0.39). In total, 65 (54.6%) couples had concordant results (both IgG positive or both IgG negative), and 54 (45.4%) had discordant results (a seropositive man with a seronegative woman, or a seropositive woman with a seronegative man) (kappa index = 0.08; 95% CI: -0.09 - 0.26). With respect to high (> 150 IU/mL) levels of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, 79 (66.4%) of the 119 couples had concordant results and 40 (33.6%) had discordant results (kappa index = -0.15; 95% CI: -0.03 - 0.33). Forty couples were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Of them, 21 (52.5%) had concordant results, and 19 (47.5%) had discordant results (kappa index = -0.01; 95% CI: -0.39 - 0.28). Concerning PCR, eight (50%) of 16 couples were positive for T. gondii DNA. Of them, 11 (68.8%) had concordant results, and five (31.2%) had discordant results (kappa index = 0.31; 95% CI: -0.17 - 0.79). Conclusions Results suggest a poor concordance of serological and molecular markers of T. gondii infection among heterosexual couples. Further studies to confirm our results should be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Jesus Hernandez-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Omar Berumen-Segovia
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sanchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Sergio Estrada-Martinez
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Ada Agustina Sandoval-Carrillo
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Jose Manuel Salas-Pacheco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Irasema Antuna-Salcido
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
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Rostami A, Seyyedtabaei SJ, Aghamolaie S, Behniafar H, Lasjerdi Z, Abdolrasouli A, Mehravar S, Alvarado-Esquivel C. SEROPREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH Toxoplasma gondii INFECTION AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NORTHERN IRAN. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2016; 58:70. [PMID: 27680175 PMCID: PMC5048641 DOI: 10.1590/s1678-9946201658070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is the fourth most common cause of hospitalization and the second cause
of death due to food-borne infections. We conducted a cross-sectional study to
determine the prevalence, disease awareness and risk factors associated with
toxoplasmosis among rural communities in Northern Iran. Data were obtained from
serological testing and from participant's questionnaires and were
analyzed using a logistic regression. Of the 630 participants, 465 (73.8%), and 12
(1.9%) had IgG and both IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii
antibodies, respectively. In the logistic regression analysis, T.
gondii seropositivity was associated with the following factors: age,
occupation, consumption of undercooked meat, and of unwashed raw vegetables or fruits
(p < 0.001). Our study showed a high prevalence of T.
gondii infection in the general population of Northern Iran. A health
program is needed to increase the public awareness of toxoplasmosis, and its
associated risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Rostami
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. E-mails: ; ; ; ;
| | - Seyyed Javad Seyyedtabaei
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. E-mails: ; ; ; ;
| | - Somayeh Aghamolaie
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. E-mails: ; ; ; ;
| | - Hamed Behniafar
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. E-mails: ; ; ; ;
| | - Zohreh Lasjerdi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Tehran, Iran. E-mails: ; ; ; ;
| | - Alireza Abdolrasouli
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. London, United Kingdom. E-mail: .,Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Imperial College London. London, United Kingdom. E-mail:
| | - Saeed Mehravar
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Science. Tehran, Iran. E-mail:
| | - Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State. Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico. E-mail:
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sanchez-Anguiano LF, Hernandez-Tinoco J, Perez-Alamos AR, Rico-Almochantaf YDR, Estrada-Martinez S, Vaquera-Enriquez R, Diaz-Herrera A, Ramos-Nevarez A, Sandoval-Carrillo AA, Salas-Pacheco JM, Cerrillo-Soto SM, Antuna-Salcido EI, Liesenfeld O, Guido-Arreola CA. Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Clin Med Res 2016; 8:730-6. [PMID: 27635178 PMCID: PMC5012242 DOI: 10.14740/jocmr2699w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome. The influence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection on clinical features in women with this disorder has not been studied. Therefore, we determined the association of T. gondii infection with symptoms and signs in women suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of 151 women suffering from premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in sera of the participants using enzyme-linked immunoassays (EIAs). In addition, T. gondii DNA was detected in whole blood of IgG seropositive participants using polymerase chain reaction. We obtained the clinical data of women with the aid of a questionnaire. The association of T. gondii infection with clinical characteristics of women was assessed by bivariate and multivariate analyses. Results Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 10 (6.6%) of the 151 women studied. Of the 10 IgG seropositive women, four (40.0%) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies, and one (10.0%) for T. gondii DNA. Mean number (25.8 ± 7.58) of premenstrual clinical characteristics in seropositive women was similar to that (29.22 ± 9.13) found in seronegative women (P = 0.25). Logistic regression showed that seropositivity to T. gondii was negatively associated with difficulty concentrating (OR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.03 - 0.91; P = 0.03), and positively associated with out of control feeling or overwhelmed (OR: 9.00; 95% CI: 1.32 - 62.00; P = 0.02). Conclusions Results of this first study on the association of T. gondii infection and clinical characteristics of premenstrual dysphoric disorder suggest that this infection might be linked to some symptoms of this disorder. We report for the first time the association of T. gondii infection and out of control feeling or overwhelmed. Results warrant for further research on the role of T. gondii in premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sanchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesus Hernandez-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Alma Rosa Perez-Alamos
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Sergio Estrada-Martinez
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Raquel Vaquera-Enriquez
- Health Center No. 2 "Dr. Carlos Santamaria", Servicios de Salud de Durango, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
| | - Arturo Diaz-Herrera
- Health Center No. 2 "Dr. Carlos Santamaria", Servicios de Salud de Durango, Talpa S/N, 34170 Durango, Mexico
| | - Agar Ramos-Nevarez
- Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - Ada Agustina Sandoval-Carrillo
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Jose Manuel Salas-Pacheco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Sandra Margarita Cerrillo-Soto
- Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Irasema Antuna-Salcido
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juarez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charite Medical School, Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany; Current address: Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA 94588, USA
| | - Carlos Alberto Guido-Arreola
- Clinica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Hernández-Tinoco J, Berumen-Segovia LO, Torres-Prieto YE, Estrada-Martínez S, Pérez-Álamos AR, Ortiz-Jurado MN, Molotla-de-León G, Beristain-García I, Rábago-Sánchez E, Liesenfeld O. Toxoplasma Gondii Infection and Depression: A Case-Control Seroprevalence Study. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2016; 6:85-9. [PMID: 27429790 PMCID: PMC4936330 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2016.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We assessed the association of Toxoplasma gondii infection and depression in a sample of psychiatric patients and control subjects without depression. We performed an age- and gender-matched case-control study of 89 patients suffering from depression attended in a public psychiatric hospital in Durango City, Mexico and 356 control subjects without depression from the general population of the same city. Participants were tested for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassays. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 11 (12.4%) of the 89 cases and in 22 (6.2%) of the 356 controls (OR = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.00-4.59; P = 0.04). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in four (19%) of 21 anti-T. gondii IgG seropositive controls but not in 11 anti-T. gondii IgG seropositive cases (P = 0.27). Patients aged 30 years old and younger had a significantly higher seroprevalence of T. gondii infection than controls of the same age group (P = 0.001). Results of the present study suggest a potential association between T. gondii infection and depression. Furthers studies to confirm our results and to determine the epidemiology of T. gondii in young depressed patients should be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sánchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State. Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State. Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Omar Berumen-Segovia
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico
| | | | - Sergio Estrada-Martínez
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State. Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Alma Rosa Pérez-Álamos
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm," Juárez University of Durango State. Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Gabriel Molotla-de-León
- Hospital of Mental Health "Dr. Miguel Vallebueno", Servicios de Salud de Durango , Durango, Mexico
| | - Isabel Beristain-García
- Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia, Juárez University of Durango State , Cuauhtémoc 223 norte, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Rábago-Sánchez
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico; General Hospital, Secretary of Health, Avenida 5 de febrero 220, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School , Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
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Abu EK, Boampong JN, Amoabeng JK, Ilechie AA, Kyei S, Owusu-Ansah A, Boadi-Kusi SB, Amoani B, Ayi I. Epidemiology of Ocular Toxoplasmosis in Three Community Surveys in the Central Region of Ghana, West Africa. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2016; 23:14-9. [PMID: 26786055 DOI: 10.3109/09286586.2015.1089579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To conduct the first ever population-based survey on ocular toxoplasmosis in the Central Region of Ghana. METHODS A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in three randomly selected communities in the Central Region, Ghana. Visual acuity (VA) measurement, dilated fundus examination by indirect ophthalmoscopy and serology testing were performed on all participants. Ocular toxoplasmosis was diagnosed based on characteristic retinal lesions and supported by positive serologic testing using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. RESULTS A total of 390 subjects aged 10-100 years (mean age 47 years) were examined; 118 (30.3%) were male and 272 (69.7%) female. Ten subjects (6 females and 4 males) had toxoplasmic ocular lesions (prevalence 2.6%). Of these, two had bilateral lesions and eight had unilateral lesions. Subjects with toxoplasmic ocular lesions were older than those without lesions (p = 0.028). The development of ocular toxoplasmosis was not associated with rural dwelling, sex, keeping cats, or consumption of meat. CONCLUSION The prevalence of ocular toxoplasmosis in our Ghanaian study population was lower than findings from Southern Brazil, where there is a similar prevalence of infection in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Kwasi Abu
- a Department of Optometry , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast , Ghana.,b Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences , School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast , Ghana
| | - Johnson Nyarko Boampong
- b Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences , School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast , Ghana
| | - Joseph Kwame Amoabeng
- a Department of Optometry , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast , Ghana.,c Department of Ophthalmology , Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital , Sekondi , Ghana
| | - Alex A Ilechie
- a Department of Optometry , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast , Ghana
| | - Samuel Kyei
- a Department of Optometry , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast , Ghana.,d Discipline of Optometry , School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus , Durban , South Africa
| | - Andrew Owusu-Ansah
- a Department of Optometry , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast , Ghana.,e Department of Ophthalmology , the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University , Changsha , Hunan , China
| | - Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi
- a Department of Optometry , School of Physical Sciences, University of Cape Coast , Ghana.,d Discipline of Optometry , School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville Campus , Durban , South Africa
| | - Benjamin Amoani
- b Department of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences , School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast , Ghana
| | - Irene Ayi
- f Department of Parasitology , Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana , Accra , Ghana
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Sudan V, Tewari AK, Singh H. MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION AND SEQUENCE PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF SURFACE ANTIGEN 3 (SAG3) GENE OF LOCAL INDIAN ISOLATES (CHENNAI AND IZATNAGAR) OF Toxoplasma gondii. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2016. [PMID: 26200959 PMCID: PMC4544243 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652015000300004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE The molecular characterization of local isolates of Toxoplasma gondii is considered significant so as to assess the homologous variations between the different loci of various strains of parasites. DESIGN AND SETTING The present communication deals with the molecular cloning and sequence analysis of the 1158 bp entire open reading frame (ORF) of surface antigen 3 (SAG3) of two Indian T. gondii isolates (Chennai and Izatnagar) being maintained as cryostock at the IVRI. METHOD The surface antigen 3 (SAG3) of two local Indian isolates were cloned and sequenced before being compared with the available published sequences. RESULTS The sequence comparison analysis revealed 99.9% homology with the standard published RH strain sequence of T. gondii. The strains were also compared with other established published sequences and found to be most related to the P-Br strain and CEP strain (both 99.3%), and least with PRU strain (98.4%). However, the two Indian isolates had 100% homology between them. CONCLUSION Finally, it was concluded that the Indian isolates were closer to the RH strain than to the P-Br strain (Brazilian strain), the CEP strain and the PRU strains (USA), with respect to nucleotide homology. The two Indian isolates used in the present study are known to vary between themselves, as far as homologies related to other genes are concerned, but they were found to be 100% homologous as far as SAG3 locus is concerned. This could be attributed to the fact that this SAG3 might be a conserved locus and thereby, further detailed studies are thereby warranted to exploit the use of this particular molecule in diagnostics and immunoprophylactics. The findings are important from the point of view of molecular phylogeny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikrant Sudan
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, U. P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura, India
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Hernández-Cortazar I, Acosta-Viana KY, Ortega-Pacheco A, Guzman-Marin EDS, Aguilar-Caballero AJ, Jiménez-Coello M. Toxoplasmosis in Mexico: epidemiological situation in humans and animals. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2016; 57:93-103. [PMID: 25923887 PMCID: PMC4435006 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652015000200001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease widely distributed throughout the world,
infecting a wide variety of animal species including humans. In Mexico, this parasite
has been detected in different parts of the country, particularly in the tropical
areas where the parasite can remain infective for long periods of time due to the
environmental conditions (i.e. high temperature and humidity over the whole year).
Several epidemiological studies have been conducted in both human and animal
populations, but despite the wide distribution of the agent in the country, there is
a significant lack of knowledge on the parasite transmission, treatment alternatives
and control measures. The lack of feral cat populations and control measures in sites
of meat production for human consumption are playing a role that has led to the wide
spread of the disease in the country, particularly in tropical areas of Southeastern
Mexico. For these reasons, this manuscript aims to review the published information
on relevant epidemiological aspects of infection with T. gondii in
humans and animals from Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne Hernández-Cortazar
- CA Biomedicina de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
| | - Karla Y Acosta-Viana
- CA Biomedicina de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
| | - Antonio Ortega-Pacheco
- CA Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
| | - Eugenia del S Guzman-Marin
- CA Biomedicina de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
| | - Armando J Aguilar-Caballero
- CA Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
| | - Matilde Jiménez-Coello
- CA Biomedicina de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
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Celik T, Gokcen C, Aytas O, Ozcelik A, Celik M, Coban N. The prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in stutterers is higher than in the control group. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2015; 62. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2015.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Hernández-Tinoco J, Arreola-Cháidez E, López J, Salcido-Meraz KI, Estrada-Martínez S, Navarrete-Flores JA, Pérez-Álamos AR, Hernández-Ochoa M, Rábago-Sánchez E, Liesenfeld O. High Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii Infection in Female Sex Workers: A Case-Control Study. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2015; 5:285-92. [PMID: 26716017 PMCID: PMC4681356 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2015.00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Through an age- and sex-matched case-control study, we sought to determine whether female sex workers have an increased risk of Toxoplasma gondii exposure and to determine the sociodemographic, work, clinical, and behavioral characteristics of these workers associated with T. gondii exposure. Female workers (n = 136) and controls (n = 272) were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassays (EIA) for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. IgM positive sera were additionally tested with enzyme linked-fluorescence immunoassay (ELFA). Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 21 (15.44%) of 136 cases and in 10 (3.67%) of 272 controls (OR = 4.05; 95% CI: 1.84–8.89; P = 0.0001). Anti-T. gondii IgG levels higher than 150 IU/ml were found in 13 (9.6%) of 136 cases and in 8 (2.9%) of 272 controls (P = 0.007). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in two cases and in six controls by EIA, but all were negative by ELFA. T. gondii seropositivity was associated with being born out of Durango State (OR = 10.47; 95% CI: 2.9–36.8; P < 0.01), injuries during sex work (OR = 6.30; 95% CI: 1.1–33.7; P = 0.03), and soil contact (OR = 4.11; 95% CI: 1.2–14.0; P = 0.02). This is the first report of an association of T. gondii infection and female sex workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Luis Francisco Sánchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Juan López
- Clinic for Sanitary Inspection , Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Sergio Estrada-Martínez
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - José Antonio Navarrete-Flores
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | - Alma Rosa Pérez-Álamos
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera Damm", Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico
| | | | - Elizabeth Rábago-Sánchez
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N , 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico ; General Hospital, Secretary of Health, Avenida 5 de febrero 220 , 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - Oliver Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School , Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
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Sutterland AL, Fond G, Kuin A, Koeter MWJ, Lutter R, van Gool T, Yolken R, Szoke A, Leboyer M, de Haan L. Beyond the association. Toxoplasma gondii in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and addiction: systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2015; 132:161-79. [PMID: 25877655 DOI: 10.1111/acps.12423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 286] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To perform a meta-analysis on studies reporting prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in any psychiatric disorder compared with healthy controls. Our secondary objective was to analyze factors possibly moderating heterogeneity. METHOD A systematic search was performed to identify studies into T. gondii infection for all major psychiatric disorders versus healthy controls. Methodological quality, publication bias, and possible moderators were assessed. RESULTS A total of 2866 citations were retrieved and 50 studies finally included. Significant odds ratios (ORs) with IgG antibodies were found in schizophrenia (OR 1.81, P < 0.00001), bipolar disorder (OR 1.52, P = 0.02), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OR 3.4, P < 0.001), and addiction (OR 1.91, P < 0.00001), but not for major depression (OR 1.21, P = 0.28). Exploration of the association between T. gondii and schizophrenia yielded a significant effect of seropositivity before onset and serointensity, but not IgM antibodies or gender. The amplitude of the OR was influenced by region and general seroprevalence. Moderators together accounted for 56% of the observed variance in study effects. After controlling for publication bias, the adjusted OR (1.43) in schizophrenia remained significant. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that T. gondii infection is associated with several psychiatric disorders and that in schizophrenia reactivation of latent T. gondii infection may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- A L Sutterland
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre (AMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - G Fond
- AP-HP, DHU Pe-PSY, Pôle de Psychiatrie et d'addictologie des Hôpitaux Universitaires H Mondor, INSERM U955, Eq 15 Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Université Paris Est-Créteil, Créteil, France.,Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France
| | - A Kuin
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre (AMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M W J Koeter
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre (AMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - R Lutter
- Departments of Experimental Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Academic Medical Centre (AMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - T van Gool
- Department of Parasitology, Academic Medical Centre (AMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - R Yolken
- Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A Szoke
- AP-HP, DHU Pe-PSY, Pôle de Psychiatrie et d'addictologie des Hôpitaux Universitaires H Mondor, INSERM U955, Eq 15 Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Université Paris Est-Créteil, Créteil, France.,Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France
| | - M Leboyer
- AP-HP, DHU Pe-PSY, Pôle de Psychiatrie et d'addictologie des Hôpitaux Universitaires H Mondor, INSERM U955, Eq 15 Psychiatrie Translationnelle, Université Paris Est-Créteil, Créteil, France.,Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France
| | - L de Haan
- Department of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Centre (AMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION A number of different infections are associated with acute psychosis. However, relationships between infections and acute psychosis in patients with schizophrenia have not been extensively explored. Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii is a replicated risk factor for schizophrenia. Previous studies have focused on T. gondii IgG antibodies, which are a marker of lifetime exposure, whereas IgM antibodies are a marker of acute/recent exposure, persistent infection, or reinfection. We performed a meta-analysis of T. gondii IgM antibodies and acute psychosis, to further investigate whether infections may be associated with relapse in schizophrenia. METHODS We identified articles by systematic searches of PubMed, PsycINFO, and ISI databases. We included studies, in English, of serum T. gondii IgM antibodies in patients with acute psychosis and controls. RESULTS Sixteen independent samples (2353 patients and 1707 controls) met inclusion criteria. Data were pooled using a random effects model. There was a significant increase in risk of positive T. gondii IgM antibodies in acute psychosis compared with controls (7.6% vs 5.7%, OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.23-2.27, P = .001). The association was stronger for patients with chronic schizophrenia (8.7% vs 4.6%, OR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.63-3.96, P < .001) than first-episode psychosis. In meta-regression analyses, age, sex, and publication year were unrelated to the association; however, there was a significant association with geographic region. DISCUSSION An increased seroprevalence of T. gondii IgM in patients with acute psychosis complements and extends previous findings, suggesting that infections may be relevant to the etiopathophysiology of relapse in some patients with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel M Monroe
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA
| | - Peter F Buckley
- Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA
| | - Brian J Miller
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA;
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Sudan V, Tewari AK, Singh R, Singh H. Comparison of histopathology and PCR based assay for detection of experimentally induced toxoplasmosis in murine model. ASIAN PAC J TROP MED 2015. [PMID: 26194828 DOI: 10.1016/j.apjtm.2015.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare histopathology and PCR based detection in diagnosis of experimentally induced toxoplasmosis of RH human strain of the parasite in murine models. METHODS A comparison of histopathology and PCR based detection was done to diagnose experimentally induced toxoplasmosis in ten inbred swiss albino mice after intraperitoneal inoculation of 100 tachyzoites of laboratory mantained human RH strain of the parasite. Tissue samples from lung, liver, spleen, brain, heart and kidney were taken and processed for histopathological examination while all the samples also were subjected to PCR, using primers directed to the multicopy of SAG 3 gene, in dublicates. RESULTS Histopathology revealed presence of tachyzoites only in liver while along with lung, liver, spleen and brain tissue yielded desired positive PCR amplicons. CONCLUSIONS The SAG 3 based PCR is able to diagnose toxoplasmosis in those tissues which are declared negative by histopathological assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikrant Sudan
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, U. P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura 281001, India
| | - A K Tewari
- Department of Parasitology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India.
| | - R Singh
- CADRAD, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, India
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Pacheco-Vega SJ, Salcedo-Jaquez M, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Hernández-Tinoco J, Rábago-Sánchez E, Centeno-Tinoco MM, Flores-Garcia ID, Ramos-Nevarez A, Cerrillo-Soto SM, Guido-Arreola CA, Beristain-García I, Liesenfeld O, Berumen-Segovia LO, Saenz-Soto L, Sifuentes-Álvarez A. Stillbirth history and Toxoplasma gondii infection in women attending public health centers in a northern Mexican City. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2015; 5:164-71. [PMID: 26185685 PMCID: PMC4500068 DOI: 10.1556/1886.2015.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Through a cross-sectional study design, 150 women attending public health centers with a history of stillbirths were examined for anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in Durango City, Mexico. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the association of T. gondii seropositivity with the characteristics of the women with stillbirth history. Of the 150 women (mean age: 32.09 ± 9.16 years) studied, 14 (9.3%) had anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies and six (42.9%) of them were also positive for anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies. Multivariate analysis showed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with high frequency (4–7 days a week) of eating meat (OR = 5.52; 95% CI: 1.48–20.59; P = 0.01), history of lymphadenopathy (OR = 4.52; 95% CI: 1.14–17.82; P = 0.03), and history of surgery (OR = 8.68; 95% CI: 1.04–72.15; P = 0.04). This is the first study on the seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in women with a history of stillbirths in Mexico. The association of T. gondii exposure with a history of surgery warrants for further research. Risk factors for T. gondii infection found in the present survey may help to design optimal educational programs to avoid T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Alvarado-Esquivel
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State , Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - S J Pacheco-Vega
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State , Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - M Salcedo-Jaquez
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State , Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - L F Sánchez-Anguiano
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juárez University of Durango State , Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - J Hernández-Tinoco
- Institute for Scientific Research "Dr. Roberto Rivera-Damm", Juárez University of Durango State , Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - E Rábago-Sánchez
- Mothers and Children's Hospital, Secretary of Health , Durango, Mexico
| | - M M Centeno-Tinoco
- Health Center 450, Secretary of Health , Toma de Zacatecas 129, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - I D Flores-Garcia
- Mothers and Children's Hospital, Secretary of Health , Durango, Mexico
| | - A Ramos-Nevarez
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado , Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - S M Cerrillo-Soto
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado , Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - C A Guido-Arreola
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado , Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
| | - I Beristain-García
- Faculty of Nursing and Obstetrics, Juárez University of Durango State , Avenida Cuauhtémoc 223, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - O Liesenfeld
- Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School , Hindenburgdamm 27, D-12203 Berlin, Germany
| | - L O Berumen-Segovia
- Biomedical Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State , Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Mexico
| | - L Saenz-Soto
- Clínica de Medicina Familiar, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado , Predio Canoas S/N, 34079 Durango, Mexico
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Toxoplasma gondii exposure in patients suffering from mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use. BMC Infect Dis 2015; 15:172. [PMID: 25886154 PMCID: PMC4397680 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-015-0912-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma gondii infection has been associated with psychiatric diseases. However, there is no information about the link between this infection and patients with mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use. Methods We performed a case-control study with 149 psychiatric patients suffering from mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use and 149 age- and gender-matched control subjects of the general population. We searched for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in the sera of participants by means of commercially available enzyme-linked immunoassays. Seroprevalence association with socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics in psychiatric patients was also investigated. Results Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were present in 15 (10.1%) of 149 cases and in 14 (9.4%) of 149 controls (P = 1.0). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were found in 11 (7.4%) of the 149 cases and in 16 (10.7%) of the 149 controls (P = 0.31). No association of T. gondii exposure with socio-demographic characteristics of patients was found. Multivariate analysis of clinical and behavioral characteristics of cases showed that T. gondii seropositivity was positively associated with consumption of opossum meat (OR = 10.78; 95% CI: 2.16-53.81; P = 0.003) and soil flooring at home (OR = 11.15; 95% CI: 1.58-78.92; P = 0.01), and negatively associated with suicidal ideation (OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05-0.64; P = 0.008). Conclusions Mental and behavioral disorders due to psychoactive substance use do not appear to represent an increased risk for T. gondii exposure. This is the first report of a positive association of T. gondii exposure with consumption of opossum meat. Further studies to elucidate the role of T. gondii infection in suicidal ideation and behavior are needed to develop optimal strategies for the prevention of infection with T. gondii.
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Gutiérrez-Fernández J, Luna Del Castillo JDD, Mañanes-González S, Carrillo-Ávila JA, Gutiérrez B, Cervilla JA, Sorlózano-Puerto A. Different presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae, herpes simplex virus type 1, human herpes virus 6, and Toxoplasma gondii in schizophrenia: meta-analysis and analytical study. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2015; 11:843-52. [PMID: 25848282 PMCID: PMC4384747 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s79285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study we have performed both a meta-analysis and an analytical study exploring the presence of Chlamydia pneumoniae, herpes simplex virus type 1, human herpes virus 6, and Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a sample of 143 schizophrenic patients and 143 control subjects. The meta-analysis was performed on papers published up to April 2014. The presence of serum immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin A was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. The detection of microbial DNA in total peripheral blood was performed by nested polymerase chain reaction. The meta-analysis showed that: 1) C. pneumoniae DNA in blood and brain are more common in schizophrenic patients; 2) there is association with parasitism by T. gondii, despite the existence of publication bias; and 3) herpes viruses were not more common in schizophrenic patients. In our sample only anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G was more prevalent and may be a risk factor related to schizophrenia, with potential value for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Blanca Gutiérrez
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Neurosciences and CIBERSAM, School of Medicine and Biohealth Research Institute (Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria) IBS-Granada, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jorge A Cervilla
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Neurosciences and CIBERSAM, School of Medicine and Biohealth Research Institute (Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria) IBS-Granada, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Sudan V, Tewari AK, Singh H, Singh R. Pathobiology of human RH strain induced experimental toxoplasmosis in murine model. J Parasit Dis 2014; 40:840-4. [PMID: 27605794 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-014-0589-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Of late, toxoplasmosis has gained immense importance as an opportunist parasite in immunocompromised patients. In immunocompromised subjects, the disease is supposed to occur in acute form and causes acute toxoplasmic encephalitis. However, the exact pathogenesis of other vital organs, particularly in acute form of infection, is still a matter of debate. Therefore, an attempt was made to study the pathogenesis of acute form of toxoplasmosis using cryopreserved human RH strain of the parasite in murine models. For this, 100 tachyzoites were given to individual mice and upon the setup of acute form of infection, the mice were euthanized and the organs were processed for histopathology. Histopathology revealed tachyzoites in liver only while severe necrosis due to multiplication of tachyzoites were visible in liver, spleen, lungs and brain. Kidneys and heart appeared more or less normal. Finally, the pathology of disease in these organs is described in detail. The present research has generated some vital information regarding necrotic changes in tissues due to acute toxoplasmosis and will defiantly help the researchers in the better understanding of disease particularly in humans and putting up of suitable treatment regime for human subjects infected with acute toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikrant Sudan
- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, India ; Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, U. P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura, India
| | - A K Tewari
- Department of Parasitology, IVRI, Izatnagar, India
| | - Harkirat Singh
- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, India ; Department of Parasitology, GADVASU, Ludhiana, India
| | - R Singh
- CADRAD, IVRI, Izatnagar, India
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Vitale M, Tumino G, Partanna S, La Chiusa S, Mancuso G, Giglia ML, Presti VDML. Impact of traditional practices on food safety: a case of acute toxoplasmosis related to the consumption of contaminated raw pork sausage in Italy. J Food Prot 2014; 77:643-6. [PMID: 24680078 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-13-285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
A case of acute toxoplasmosis in an adolescent girl, almost certainly related to the consumption of raw sausage, is described. The girl suffered of fever and weakness and presented a swollen lymph node in the submandibular region. Serology analysis was positive for Toxoplasma gondii and excluded other infections. Further analysis, with avidity test and immunoblot, confirmed the acute toxoplasmosis. She reported that about a month before the appearance of the symptoms, she had eaten a piece of raw sausage while it was being prepared by her father. We analyzed sausage samples prepared from this same batch that had been frozen for later consumption, and they demonstrated evidence of T. gondii DNA when using a specific nested PCR assay. The sausage was prepared from the meat of a pig that had been backyard raised and slaughtered at home, a traditional practice in rural communities in many countries. The tasting of fresh prepared raw sausage is a common practice throughout Italy, and it could be a major cause for toxoplasmosis as suggested by the results of a questionnaire administered in the province of Palermo, Sicily. Contact with cats and, to a lesser extent, raw salad consumption were also referred to as presumptive causes for the symptomatic cases. Two additional cases of acute toxoplasmosis reported during questionnaire administration were alleged to have been caused by the consumption of fresh sausage made with the meat of a pig raised in the yard. Traditional practices in animal farming, and the processing of meat from animals raised in the backyard or meat from wild game animals, might have a big impact on food safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vitale
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia A. Mirri, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Tumino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia A. Mirri, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Samanta Partanna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia A. Mirri, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Stella La Chiusa
- Buccheri La Ferla Hospital Palermo, Via Messina Marine, 197, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Mancuso
- Buccheri La Ferla Hospital Palermo, Via Messina Marine, 197, 90123 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria La Giglia
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia A. Mirri, Via Gino Marinuzzi 3, 90129 Palermo, Italy
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Abstract
Depression is a debilitating psychiatric disorder and a growing global public health issue. However, the relationships between microbial infections and depression remains uncertain. A computerized literature search of Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to May 2013, and 6362 studies were initially identified for screening. Case-control studies detected biomarker of microorganism were included. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 28 studies were finally included to compare the detection of 16 infectious agents in unipolar depressed patients and healthy controls with a positive incident being defined as a positive biochemical marker of microbial infection. A customized form was used for data extraction. Pooled analysis revealed that the majority of the 16 infectious agents were not significantly associated with depression. However, there were statistically significant associations between depression and infection with Borna disease virus, herpes simplex virus-1, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and Chlamydophila trachomatis.
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Flegr J, Prandota J, Sovičková M, Israili ZH. Toxoplasmosis--a global threat. Correlation of latent toxoplasmosis with specific disease burden in a set of 88 countries. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90203. [PMID: 24662942 PMCID: PMC3963851 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 383] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2013] [Accepted: 01/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis 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 STUDY The 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 FINDINGS Prevalence 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. CONCLUSIONS The 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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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Flegr
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Joseph Prandota
- Department of Social Pediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Michaela Sovičková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zafar H. Israili
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Hernández-Tinoco J, Sánchez-Anguiano LF, Ramos-Nevárez A, Cerrillo-Soto SM, Sáenz-Soto L, Liesenfeld O. High seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in inmates: A case control study in Durango City, Mexico. Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp) 2014; 4:76-82. [PMID: 24678408 PMCID: PMC3955834 DOI: 10.1556/eujmi.4.2014.1.7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The seroprevalence of infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and the association with risk factors has not been determined in inmates. Through a case-control study, 166 inmates from a state correctional facility in Durango City, Mexico and 166 age- and gender-matched non-incarcerated subjects were examined for the presence of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassays. RESULTS Seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was higher in inmates (35, 21.1%) than in controls (14, 8.4%) (OR = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.43-5.94; P = 0.001). Anti-T. gondii IgM antibodies were detected in two (1.2%) inmates and in seven (4.2%) controls (P = 0.17). Multivariate analysis of socio-demographic, incarceration, and behavioral characteristics of inmates revealed that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with being born out of Durango State (OR = 3.91; 95% CI: 1.29-11.79; P = 0.01). In addition, T. gondii seroprevalence was higher (P = 0.03) in inmates that had suffered from injuries (17/56: 30.4%) than those without such history (18/110: 16.4%). CONCLUSIONS The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in inmates in Durango City is higher than the seroprevalences found in the general population in the same city, indicating that inmates may represent a new risk group for T. gondii infection. Further research on T. gondii infection in inmates is needed.
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Abstract
The association of Toxoplasma gondii infection with suicide attempts has been scarcely evaluated. Two hundred eighty-three psychiatric outpatients (156 patients with history of suicide attempt and 127 control patients without history of suicide attempt) were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassays for Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies. Seroprevalences of Toxoplasma IgG and IgM in the cases and the controls were similar: 7 (4.5%) and 3 (1.9%) vs. 10 (7.9%) and 3 (2.4%) (p = 0.23 and p = 0.55), respectively. In contrast, the Toxoplasma IgG levels higher than 150 IU/ml were more frequently observed in the cases than in the controls (100% vs. 50%, respectively; p = 0.04). The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection increased with age and with the number of suicide attempts. Toxoplasma seropositivity was associated with reflex impairment, national trips, and snake meat consumption. Our results suggest that although seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection is not associated with suicide attempts, a high anti-Toxoplasma antibody level is, therefore warranting further research.
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Alvarado-Esquivel C. Toxocara infection in psychiatric inpatients: a case control seroprevalence study. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62606. [PMID: 23626838 PMCID: PMC3633879 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is poor knowledge about the epidemiology of toxocariasis in psychiatric patients. AIMS Determine the seroepidemiology of Toxocara infection in psychiatric patients. METHODS Through a case-control seroprevalence study, 128 psychiatric inpatients and 276 control subjects were compared for the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies in Durango, Mexico. Socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics of inpatients associated with toxocariasis were also investigated. RESULTS Six of the 128 (4.7%) psychiatric inpatients, and 3 (1.1%) of the 276 controls were positive for anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies (P = 0.03). Stratification by age showed that Toxocara seroprevalence was significantly (P = 0.02) higher in patients aged ≤50 years old (6/90∶6.7%) than controls of the same age (2/163∶1.2%). While Toxocara seroprevalence was similar in patients and controls aged >50 years old. Stratification by gender showed that Toxocara seroprevalence was significantly (P = 0.03) higher in female patients (2/37∶5.4%) than in female controls (0/166∶0%). No statistically significant associations between Toxocara seropositivity and clinical characteristics were found. In contrast, Toxocara seropositivity was associated with consumption of goat meat and raw sea snail. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report of toxocariasis in psychiatric inpatients in Mexico. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to elucidate the association of toxocariasis with psychiatric diseases. The role of the consumption of goat meat and raw sea snail in the transmission of Toxocara deserve further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Department of Infectology, Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Durango, Mexico.
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Sex-dependent neurotransmitter level changes in brains of Toxoplasma gondii infected mice. Exp Parasitol 2013; 133:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2012] [Revised: 10/08/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Fabiani S, Pinto B, Bruschi F. Toxoplasmosis and neuropsychiatric diseases: can serological studies establish a clear relationship? Neurol Sci 2012; 34:417-25. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-012-1197-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2012] [Accepted: 09/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Arias I, Sorlozano A, Villegas E, de Dios Luna J, McKenney K, Cervilla J, Gutierrez B, Gutierrez J. Infectious agents associated with schizophrenia: a meta-analysis. Schizophr Res 2012; 136:128-36. [PMID: 22104141 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2011.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2011] [Revised: 10/11/2011] [Accepted: 10/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a highly disabling and limiting disorder for patients and the possibility that infections by some microorganisms may be associated to its development may allow prevention and recovery. In the current study we have done a meta-analysis of studies that have assessed the possible association between detection of different infectious agents and schizophrenia. We report results that support the idea that there is a statistically significant association between schizophrenia and infection by Human Herpesvirus 2 (OR=1.34; CI 95%: 1.09-1.70; p=0.05), Borna Disease Virus (OR=2.03; CI 95%: 1.35-3.06; p<0.01), Human Endogenous Retrovirus W (OR=19.31; CI 95%: 6.74-55.29; p<0.001), Chlamydophila pneumoniae (OR=6.34; CI 95%: 2.83-14.19; p<0.001), Chlamydophila psittaci (OR=29.05; CI 95%: 8.91-94.70; p<0.001) and Toxoplasma gondii (OR=2.70; CI 95%: 1.34-4.42; p=0.005). The implications of these findings are discussed and further research options are also explicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Arias
- CAP El Clot, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, Spain
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Dalimi A, Abdoli A. Latent toxoplasmosis and human. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2012; 7:1-17. [PMID: 23133466 PMCID: PMC3488815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2011] [Accepted: 01/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common parasitic diseases worldwide. Although estimated that one third of the world's population are infected with Toxoplasma gondii, but the most common form of the disease is latent (asymptomatic). On the other hand, recent findings indicated that latent toxoplasmosis is not only unsafe for human, but also may play various roles in the etiology of different mental disorders. This paper reviews new findings about importance of latent toxoplasmosis (except in immunocompromised patients) in alterations of behavioral parameters and also its role in the etiology of schizophrenia and depressive disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Alzheimer's diseases and Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, headache and or migraine, mental retardation and intelligence quotients, suicide attempt, risk of traffic accidents, sex ratio and some possible mechanisms of T. gondii that could contribute in the etiology of these alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Dalimi
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Anti-Toxoplasma antibody prevalence, primary infection rate, and risk factors in a study of toxoplasmosis in 4,466 pregnant women in Japan. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2011; 19:365-7. [PMID: 22205659 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.05486-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by infection with Toxoplasma gondii and is prevalent worldwide under various climatic conditions. It is usually asymptomatic, but infection in pregnant women can pose serious health problems for the fetus. However, epidemiological information regarding toxoplasmosis in Japanese pregnant women is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, the primary infection rate, and the risk factors for toxoplasmosis in Japanese pregnant women. We measured anti-Toxoplasma antibody titers in 4,466 pregnant women over a period of 7.5 years and simultaneously conducted interviews to identify the risk factors for toxoplasmosis. The overall prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies was 10.3%, and it was significantly higher in women aged above 35 years. The rate of primary Toxoplasma infection during pregnancy was estimated to be 0.25%. A possibility of infection in the later stages of pregnancy was identified for those women who were not infected in the early stages. A history of raw meat intake was identified to be a risk factor related to toxoplasmosis. Therefore, to lower the risk of toxoplasmosis, pregnant women should refrain from eating raw and undercooked meat and maintain personal hygiene.
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Toxoplasma gondii infection in workers occupationally exposed to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables: a case control seroprevalence study. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:235. [PMID: 22177118 PMCID: PMC3259050 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Through a case control seroprevalence study, we sought to determine the association of Toxoplasma gondii infection with occupational exposure to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables. Methods Subjects, numbering 200, who worked growing or selling fruits and vegetables, and 400 control subjects matched by age, gender, and residence were examined by enzyme immunoassays for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. Socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics from the study subjects were obtained. Results Of the 200 fruit and vegetable workers, 15 (7.5%) of whom, and 31 (7.8%) of the 400 controls were positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies (P = 0.96). Anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies were found in 2 (1%) of the fruit workers and in 11 (2.8%) of the control subjects (P = 0.23). Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma antibodies increased with age (P = 0.0004). In addition, seropositivity to Toxoplasma was associated with ill status (P = 0.04), chronic tonsillitis (P = 0.03), and reflex impairment (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that Toxoplasma infection was associated with consumption of raw meat (OR = 5.77; 95% CI: 1.15-28.79; P = 0.03), unwashed raw fruits (OR = 2.50; 95% CI: 1.11-5.63; P = 0.02), and living in a house with soil floors (OR = 3.10; 95% CI: 1.22-7.88; P = 0.01), whereas Toxoplasma infection was negatively associated with traveling abroad (OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.12-0.67; P = 0.005). Conclusions This is the first report of seroprevalence and contributing factors for Toxoplasma infection in workers occupationally exposed to unwashed raw fruits and vegetables, and the results may help in the design of optimal preventive measures against Toxoplasma infection especially in female workers at reproductive age.
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Chew WK, Wah MJ, Ambu S, Segarra I. Toxoplasma gondii: determination of the onset of chronic infection in mice and the in vitro reactivation of brain cysts. Exp Parasitol 2011; 130:22-5. [PMID: 22027550 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2011] [Revised: 03/25/2011] [Accepted: 10/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intra-cellular parasite that infects humans through vertical and horizontal transmission. The cysts remain dormant in the brain of infected humans and can reactivate in immunocompromised hosts resulting in acute toxoplasmic encephalitis which may be fatal. We determined the onset and progression of brain cysts generation in a mouse model following acute toxoplasmosis as well as the ability of brain cysts to reactivate in vitro. Male Balb/c mice, (uninfected control group, n = 10) were infected orally (study group, n = 50) with 1000 tachyzoites of T. gondii (ME49 strain) and euthanized at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 weeks post infection. Brain tissue was harvested, homogenized, stained and the number of brain cysts counted. Aliquots of brain homogenate with cysts were cultured in vitro with confluent Vero cells and the number of cysts and tachyzoites counted after 1 week. Brain cysts but not tachyzoites were detected at week 2 post infection and reached a plateau by week 4. In vitro Vero cells culture showed similar pattern for cysts and tachyzoites and reactivation of cyst in vitro was not influenced by the age of the brain cysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai Kit Chew
- Department of Human Biology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, No 126 Jalan 19/155B, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Nissapatorn V, Suwanrath C, Sawangjaroen N, Ling LY, Chandeying V. Toxoplasmosis-serological evidence and associated risk factors among pregnant women in southern Thailand. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2011; 85:243-7. [PMID: 21813842 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an important parasite in pregnant women. This case-controlled study assessed the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in 640 pregnant women in southern Thailand and identified their associated risk factors. The overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 181 (28.3%). Of this, 138 (21.6%) were positive for only anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody, 43 (6.7%) were positive for both IgG and IgM antibodies, and none were positive for IgM antibody. Multivariate analysis revealed that increasing age (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-2.67), living outside Songkhla province (adjusted OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.08-2.24), parity (adjusted OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.01-2.68), contact with cats (adjusted OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.20-2.43), and drinking of unclean water (adjusted OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.08-2.68) were factors associated with Toxoplasma seroprevalence. On the basis of the results obtained, a health surveillance program should be initiated as a primary preventive measure for congenital toxoplasmosis and focus on educating women of the child-bearing age group to avoid contact with cats and to strictly practice personal hygiene.
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Estrada-Martínez S. Toxoplasma gondii infection and abdominal hernia: evidence of a new association. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:112. [PMID: 21682896 PMCID: PMC3130683 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2011] [Accepted: 06/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We performed a retrospective, observational study in 1156 adult subjects from the general population of Durango City, Mexico, Fifty five subjects with a history of abdominal hernia repair and 1101 subjects without hernia were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassays for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies. RESULTS The seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and IgG titers was significantly higher in subjects with abdominal hernia repair than those without hernia. There was a tendency for subjects with hernia repair to have a higher seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies than subjects without hernia. The seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in subjects with hernia repair was significantly higher in subjects ≥ 50 years old than those < 50 years old. Further analysis in subjects aged ≥ 50 years showed that the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies was also significantly higher in individuals with hernia repair than those without hernia (OR = 2.72; 95% CI: 1.10-6.57). Matching by age and sex further showed that the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection was significantly higher in patients with hernia repair than those without hernia (OR: 4.50; 95% CI: 1.22-17.33). CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that infection with Toxoplasma is associated with abdominal hernia. The contributing role of infection with Toxoplasma in abdominal hernia was observed mainly in subjects aged ≥ 50 years old. Our results might have clinical, prevention and treatment implications and warrant for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Faculty of Medicine and Nutrition, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N, 34000 Durango, Durango, Mexico.
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Torres-Berumen JL, Estrada-Martínez S, Liesenfeld O, Mercado-Suarez MF. Toxoplasma gondii infection and liver disease: a case-control study in a northern Mexican population. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:75. [PMID: 21569516 PMCID: PMC3105944 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 05/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii may cause liver disease. However, the impact of the infection in patients suffering from liver disease is unknown. Therefore, through a case-control study design, 75 adult liver disease patients attending a public hospital in Durango City, Mexico, and 150 controls from the general population of the same region matched by gender, age, and residence were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassays for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies. Socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics from the study subjects were obtained. RESULTS Seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and IgG titers did not differ significantly in patients (10/75; 13.3%) and controls (16/150; 10.7%). Two (2.7%) patients and 5 (3.3%) controls had anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies (P = 0.57). Seropositivity to Toxoplasma did not show any association with the diagnosis of liver disease. In contrast, seropositivity to Toxoplasma in patients was associated with consumption of venison and quail meat. Toxoplasma seropositivity was more frequent in patients with reflex impairment (27.8%) than in patients without this impairment (8.8%) (P = 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that Toxoplasma seropositivity in patients was associated with consumption of sheep meat (OR = 8.69; 95% CI: 1.02-73.71; P = 0.04) and rabbit meat (OR = 4.61; 95% CI: 1.06-19.98; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Seropositivity to Toxoplasma was comparable among liver disease patients and controls. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to elucidate the association of Toxoplasma with liver disease. Consumption of venison, and rabbit, sheep, and quail meats may warrant further investigation.
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Alvarado-Esquivel C, Urbina-Álvarez JD, Estrada-Martínez S, Torres-Castorena A, Molotla-de-León G, Liesenfeld O, Dubey JP. Toxoplasma gondii infection and schizophrenia: a case control study in a low Toxoplasma seroprevalence Mexican population. Parasitol Int 2011; 60:151-5. [PMID: 21292026 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Revised: 11/29/2010] [Accepted: 12/06/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
There are conflicting reports concerning the association of Toxoplasma gondii infection and schizophrenia in humans. Therefore, we determined such association in a Mexican population of Mestizo ethnicity. Through a case-control study design, 50 schizophrenic patients and 150 control subjects matched by gender, age, residence place, and ethnicity were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassays for the presence and levels of T. gondii IgG antibodies and for the presence of T. gondii IgM antibodies. Schizophrenic patients attended a public psychiatric hospital in Durango City, Mexico, and the control group consisted of individuals of the general population of the same city. Socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics from the study subjects were also obtained. Both the seroprevalence and the level of T.gondii IgG antibodies were higher in schizophrenic patients (10/50; 20%) than in control subjects (8/150; 5.3%) (OR=4.44; 95% CI: 1.49-13.37; P=0.003). The IgG T. gondii levels higher than 150 IU/ml were more frequently observed in patients than in controls (10% versus 2%, respectively; P=0.02). One (50%) of the two patients with recently diagnosed schizophrenia and none of the controls had T. gondii IgM antibodies (P=0.01). T. gondii seropositivity was significantly higher in patients with a history of cleaning cat excrement (P=0.005), and suffering from simple schizophrenia (ICD-10 classification: F20.6) (P=0.03) than patients without these characteristics. Toxoplasma seroprevalence was also significantly higher in patients with simple schizophrenia (F20.6) than in those with paranoid schizophrenia (F20.0) (P=0.02). This study provides elements to clarify the controversial information on the association of T. gondii infection and schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel
- Faculty of Medicine, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad S/N esquina Fanny Anitua, 34000 Durango, Dgo, Mexico.
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Goodwin DG, Strobl JS, Lindsay DS. Evaluation of five antischizophrenic agents against Toxoplasma gondii in human cell cultures. J Parasitol 2010; 97:148-51. [PMID: 21348624 DOI: 10.1645/ge-2536.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing interest in the association of the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and the development of schizophrenia in patients has been generated over the last several years. Some antischizophrenia agents have been shown to have activity against T. gondii in cell culture assays and to ameliorate behavioral changes associated with chronic T. gondii infection in rats. In the present study, we examined the effects of commonly used antipsychotic and mood stabilizing agents (haloperidol, clozapine, fluphenazine, trifluoperazine, and thioridazine) for activity against developing tachyzoites of the RH strain of T. gondii in human fibroblast cell cultures. Neither haloperidol nor clozapine had a measurable effect. Fluphenazine had an IC(50) of 1.7 µM, thioridazine had an IC(50) of 1.2 µM, and trifluoperazine had an IC(50) of 3.8 µM. Our study demonstrates that some agents used to treat schizophrenia have the ability to inhibit T. gondii proliferation in cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Goodwin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0342, USA
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