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Bartolomé del Pino LE, Zanón-Moreno V. Systematic Review on the Relationship between Toxoplasmosis and Mental Disorders. ACTAS ESPANOLAS DE PSIQUIATRIA 2024; 52:149-160. [PMID: 38622004 PMCID: PMC11015818 DOI: 10.62641/aep.v52i2.1658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide parasitic zoonosis caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. In cases of vertical infection, and in immunosuppressed people by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serious clinical conditions may appear, while immunocompetent people do not present symptoms. However, T. gondii infection has been linked to several mental disorders for decades. OBJECTIVE To substantiate the possible relationship between T. gondii and mental disorders and suggest control and prevention strategies. MATERIAL AND METHODS A systematic review has been carried out to analyze the relationship between T. gondii exposure (presence of IgG) and the onset of mental disorders in minors and adults. The etiopathogenic mechanisms described by the authors have also been included and the systems of surveillance, prevention and control of infection have been evaluated. RESULTS Several processes linked to the presence of cysts and the reactivation of the parasite in certain situations produce an immune and inflammatory response. Also, direct and indirect actions on different neurotransmitters. These mechanisms, together with other environmental and genetic factors, would predispose to different psychiatric pathologies. CONCLUSIONS Due to the limits of the study, no conclusions can be drawn in childhood and adolescence. However, the results of this systematic review show a possible association of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and compulsive disorder with T. gondii infection in adults. There is a need to improve control, integrated surveillance and extend prevention measures to the entire population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vicente Zanón-Moreno
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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Rantala MJ, Luoto S, Borráz-León JI, Krams I. Schizophrenia: the new etiological synthesis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 142:104894. [PMID: 36181926 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia has been an evolutionary paradox: it has high heritability, but it is associated with decreased reproductive success. The causal genetic variants underlying schizophrenia are thought to be under weak negative selection. To unravel this paradox, many evolutionary explanations have been suggested for schizophrenia. We critically discuss the constellation of evolutionary hypotheses for schizophrenia, highlighting the lack of empirical support for most existing evolutionary hypotheses-with the exception of the relatively well supported evolutionary mismatch hypothesis. It posits that evolutionarily novel features of contemporary environments, such as chronic stress, low-grade systemic inflammation, and gut dysbiosis, increase susceptibility to schizophrenia. Environmental factors such as microbial infections (e.g., Toxoplasma gondii) can better predict the onset of schizophrenia than polygenic risk scores. However, researchers have not been able to explain why only a small minority of infected people develop schizophrenia. The new etiological synthesis of schizophrenia indicates that an interaction between host genotype, microbe infection, and chronic stress causes schizophrenia, with neuroinflammation and gut dysbiosis mediating this etiological pathway. Instead of just alleviating symptoms with drugs, the parasite x genotype x stress model emphasizes that schizophrenia treatment should focus on detecting and treating possible underlying microbial infection(s), neuroinflammation, gut dysbiosis, and chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus J Rantala
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FIN-20014 Turku, Finland.
| | - Severi Luoto
- School of Population Health, University of Auckland, 1023 Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Indrikis Krams
- Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, 51014 Tartu, Estonia; Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, 1004, Rīga, Latvia
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3
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Rovira P, Gutiérrez B, Sorlózano-Puerto A, Gutiérrez-Fernández J, Molina E, Rivera M, Martínez-Leal R, Ibanez-Casas I, Martín-Laguna MV, Rosa A, Torres-González F, Cervilla JA. Toxoplasma gondii Seropositivity Interacts with Catechol- O-methyltransferase Val105/158Met Variation Increasing the Risk of Schizophrenia. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13061088. [PMID: 35741850 PMCID: PMC9222771 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous and severe psychotic disorder. Epidemiological findings have suggested that the exposure to infectious agents such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is associated with an increased risk for schizophrenia. On the other hand, there is evidence involving the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val105/158Met polymorphism in the aetiology of schizophrenia since it alters the dopamine metabolism. A case−control study of 141 patients and 142 controls was conducted to analyse the polymorphism, the prevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG, and their interaction on the risk for schizophrenia. IgG were detected by ELISA, and genotyping was performed with TaqMan Real-Time PCR. Although no association was found between any COMT genotype and schizophrenia, we found a significant association between T. gondii seropositivity and the disorder (χ2 = 11.71; p-value < 0.001). Furthermore, the risk for schizophrenia conferred by T. gondii was modified by the COMT genotype, with those who had been exposed to the infection showing a different risk compared to that of nonexposed ones depending on the COMT genotype (χ2 for the interaction = 7.28, p-value = 0.007). This study provides evidence that the COMT genotype modifies the risk for schizophrenia conferred by T. gondii infection, with it being higher in those individuals with the Met/Met phenotype, intermediate in heterozygous, and lower in those with the Val/Val phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Rovira
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.R.); (M.R.); (M.V.M.-L.); (J.A.C.)
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain; (A.S.-P.); (J.G.-F.)
- Vicerectorat de Recerca, Investigadora postdoctoral Margarita Salas, Universitat de Barcelona, 08007 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Blanca Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.R.); (M.R.); (M.V.M.-L.); (J.A.C.)
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain; (A.S.-P.); (J.G.-F.)
- Correspondence: (B.G.); (E.M.); Tel.: +34-958-242-075 (B.G. & E.M.)
| | - Antonio Sorlózano-Puerto
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain; (A.S.-P.); (J.G.-F.)
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - José Gutiérrez-Fernández
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain; (A.S.-P.); (J.G.-F.)
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Esther Molina
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.R.); (M.R.); (M.V.M.-L.); (J.A.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain; (A.S.-P.); (J.G.-F.)
- Departamento de Enfermería, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence: (B.G.); (E.M.); Tel.: +34-958-242-075 (B.G. & E.M.)
| | - Margarita Rivera
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.R.); (M.R.); (M.V.M.-L.); (J.A.C.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain; (A.S.-P.); (J.G.-F.)
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular II, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Martínez-Leal
- Unidad de Investigación en Discapacidad Intelectual y Trastornos del Desarrollo (UNIVIDD), Fundació Villablanca, IISPV, Departamento de Psicología, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), 43007 Reus, Spain;
| | - Inmaculada Ibanez-Casas
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, 12901 NY, USA;
| | - María Victoria Martín-Laguna
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.R.); (M.R.); (M.V.M.-L.); (J.A.C.)
| | - Araceli Rosa
- Secció de Zoologia i Antropologia Biològica, Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | | | - Jorge A. Cervilla
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación Biomédica (CIBM), Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain; (P.R.); (M.R.); (M.V.M.-L.); (J.A.C.)
- Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain; (A.S.-P.); (J.G.-F.)
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Contopoulos‐Ioannidis DG, Gianniki M, Ai‐Nhi Truong A, Montoya JG. Toxoplasmosis and Schizophrenia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Prevalence and Associations and Future Directions. PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PRACTICE 2022; 4:48-60. [PMID: 36254187 PMCID: PMC9558922 DOI: 10.1176/appi.prcp.20210041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Despina G. Contopoulos‐Ioannidis
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA (D. G. Contopoulos‐Ioannidis); Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Athens, Greece (M. Gianniki); Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA (A. Ai‐Nhi Truong); Dr. Jack S. Remington Laboratory for Specialty Diagnostics, National Reference Center for the Study and Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis Palo Alto Medical
| | - Maria Gianniki
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA (D. G. Contopoulos‐Ioannidis); Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Athens, Greece (M. Gianniki); Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA (A. Ai‐Nhi Truong); Dr. Jack S. Remington Laboratory for Specialty Diagnostics, National Reference Center for the Study and Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis Palo Alto Medical
| | - Angeline Ai‐Nhi Truong
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA (D. G. Contopoulos‐Ioannidis); Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Athens, Greece (M. Gianniki); Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA (A. Ai‐Nhi Truong); Dr. Jack S. Remington Laboratory for Specialty Diagnostics, National Reference Center for the Study and Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis Palo Alto Medical
| | - Jose G. Montoya
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA (D. G. Contopoulos‐Ioannidis); Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Athens, Greece (M. Gianniki); Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA (A. Ai‐Nhi Truong); Dr. Jack S. Remington Laboratory for Specialty Diagnostics, National Reference Center for the Study and Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis Palo Alto Medical
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5
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Klein-Petersen AW, Köhler-Forsberg O, Benros ME. Infections, antibiotic treatment and the Microbiome in relation to schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 2021; 234:71-77. [PMID: 31859119 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a heterogeneous disorder with several potential pathophysiological mechanisms, including immune activation. Infections have been identified as a significant contributing risk factor for schizophrenia; this association is reviewed together with the potential impact of antibiotic treatment and alterations of the intestinal microbiota. Both infections and the treatment with antibiotics may alter the composition of the gut microbiota, causing dysbiosis, which in animal studies has been associated with alterations of behavior. Of the few studies that have been conducted on humans, some have suggested alterations in the microbial composition of individuals with schizophrenia compared to healthy controls, albeit with conflicting results. Recently, increased attention has emerged regarding potential adverse effects from antibiotics, as a number of these have been associated with an increased risk of psychotic episodes. Particularly, the fluoroquinolones have been associated with neurotoxic adverse events. The association between schizophrenia and infections, antibiotic treatment and dysbiosis, may be an epiphenomenon, which could be explained by other confounding factors. However, these associations could be causal and could therefore be important risk factors in a subgroup of patients. Large-scale well-matched longitudinal studies are needed with measurements of immune markers from multiple biological samples, ranging from material close to the brain, as cerebrospinal fluid and brain-scans targeting neuroinflammation, to analysis of blood and intestinal microbiota. This would help to obtain more definite results on the association between infections, immune components and microbiota alterations in relation to schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ole Köhler-Forsberg
- Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark; Psychosis Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital - Psychiatry, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Michael E Benros
- Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark.
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6
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Burkhardt E, Berger M, Yolken RH, Lin A, Yuen HP, Wood SJ, Francey SM, Thompson A, McGorry PD, Nelson B, Yung AR, Amminger GP. Toxoplasma gondii, Herpesviridae and long-term risk of transition to first-episode psychosis in an ultra high-risk sample. Schizophr Res 2021; 233:24-30. [PMID: 34225023 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ultra high-risk (UHR) criteria were introduced to identify people at imminent risk of developing psychosis. To improve prognostic accuracy, additional clinical and biological risk factors have been researched. Associations between psychotic disorders and infections with Toxoplasma gondii and Herpesviridae have been found. It is unknown if exposure to those pathogens increases the risk of transition to psychosis in UHR cohorts. METHODS We conducted a long-term follow-up of 96 people meeting UHR criteria, previously seen at the Personal Assessment and Crisis Evaluation (PACE) clinic, a specialized service in Melbourne, Australia. Transition to psychosis was assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment of the At-Risk Mental State (CAARMS) and state public mental health records. The relationship between IgG antibodies to Herpesviridae (HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV, EBV, VZV) and Toxoplasma gondii and risk for transition was examined with Cox regression models. RESULTS Mean follow-up duration was 6.46 (±3.65) years. Participants who transitioned to psychosis (n = 14) had significantly higher antibody titers for Toxoplasma gondii compared to those who did not develop psychosis (p = 0.03). After adjusting for age, gender and year of baseline assessment, seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii was associated with a 3.6-fold increase in transition hazard in multivariate Cox regression models (HR = 3.6; p = 0.036). No significant association was found between serostatus for Herpesviridae and risk of transition. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii may contribute to the manifestation of positive psychotic symptoms and increase the risk of transitioning to psychosis in UHR individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Burkhardt
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - M Berger
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - R H Yolken
- John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Baltimore, USA
| | - A Lin
- Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - H P Yuen
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - S J Wood
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - S M Francey
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Thompson
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, UK
| | - P D McGorry
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - B Nelson
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - A R Yung
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
| | - G P Amminger
- Orygen, Parkville, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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Romanov DV, Brazhnikov AI, Andreyuk DS, Zakharova NV, Bravve LV, Kovaleva VA, Abbazova EV, Goncharov DB, Titova IV, Domonova EA, Kostyuk GP. Schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis: association with catatonic symptoms. CONSORTIUM PSYCHIATRICUM 2020; 1:22-29. [PMID: 38680390 PMCID: PMC11047268 DOI: 10.17650/2712-7672-2020-1-1-22-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The association between schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis has been demonstrated in a number of studies: the prevalence of schizophrenia is significantly higher in toxoplasmosis positive subjects than in those with T. gondii negative status. However, the clinical significance of this association remains poorly understood. Objectives To identify clinical phenomena that are typical for toxoplasmosis-associated (T. gondii seropositive) schizophrenia compared to Toxoplasma-seronegative schizophrenia. Methods A retrospective database analysis of serum samples from 105 inpatients with schizophrenia (ICD-10code: F20; including 55 male patients; mean age of 27.4 6.4 years) was carried out. The clinical examination involved a structured interview including ICD-10 and E. Bleulers criteria for schizophrenia and psychometric tests(Positive and Negative Scales of PANSS). Serum antibodies (IgG) to T. gondii were identified using ELISA. The statistical significance of any differences were evaluated using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney (U) and X2 tests. Results The proportion of seropositive patients in the sample was 16.2%. Comparing schizophrenia patients, who were seropositive or seronegative for toxoplasmosis, there were no statistically significant differences for the mean total PANSS score, mean PANSS-P, PANSS-N or PANSS-G scores. For the majority of PANSS items, differences were also statistically insignificant, except for G5 and G6mannerism and posturing. Seropositive patients had a higher score for this item than seronegative patients: 3.5 versus 2.1 points (U=389.5; р=0.001). Depression, on the contrary,was less pronounced in seropositive than seronegative patients: 1.4 versus 2.4 points (U=509.5; р=0.023). In addition,in seropositive patients, the frequency of symptoms such as mutism according to ICD-10 criteria for schizophrenia was significantly higher (23.5% versus 3.4%, X2=9.27, р=0.013), and the whole group of catatonic symptoms according to the E. Bleulers criteria for schizophrenia was higher (52.9% versus 28.4%, X2=3.916, p = 0.048). Conclusion The association between a positive toxoplasmosis status in patients with schizophrenia and catatonic symptoms has been revealed for the first time and should be verified in larger studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry V. Romanov
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
- Mental Health Research Centre
| | | | - Denis S. Andreyuk
- Mental-health clinic No. 1 named after N.A. Aleхeev
- M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Economics
| | | | | | - Vasilisa A. Kovaleva
- N.F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - Evgeniya V. Abbazova
- N.F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - Dmitriy B. Goncharov
- N.F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - Irina V. Titova
- N.F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - Elvira A. Domonova
- N.F. Gamaleya Federal Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of Russia
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Burgdorf KS, Trabjerg BB, Pedersen MG, Nissen J, Banasik K, Pedersen OB, Sørensen E, Nielsen KR, Larsen MH, Erikstrup C, Bruun-Rasmussen P, Westergaard D, Thørner LW, Hjalgrim H, Paarup HM, Brunak S, Pedersen CB, Torrey EF, Werge T, Mortensen PB, Yolken RH, Ullum H. Large-scale study of Toxoplasma and Cytomegalovirus shows an association between infection and serious psychiatric disorders. Brain Behav Immun 2019; 79:152-158. [PMID: 30685531 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Common infectious pathogens have been associated with psychiatric disorders, self-violence and risk-taking behavior. METHODS This case-control study reviews register data on 81,912 individuals from the Danish Blood Donor Study to identify individuals who have a psychiatric diagnosis (N = 2591), have attempted or committed suicide (N = 655), or have had traffic accidents (N = 2724). For all cases, controls were frequency matched by age and sex, resulting in 11,546 participants. Plasma samples were analyzed for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus (CMV). RESULTS T. gondii was detected in 25·9% of the population and was associated with schizophrenia (odds ratio [OR], 1·47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1·03-2·09). Accounting for temporality, with pathogen exposure preceding outcome, the association was even stronger (IRR, 2·78; 95% CI, 1·27-6·09). A very weak association between traffic accident and toxoplasmosis (OR, 1·11; 95% CI, 1·00-1·23, p = 0.054) was found. CMV was detected in 60·8% of the studied population and was associated with any psychiatric disorder (OR, 1·17; 95% CI, 1·06-1·29), but also with a smaller group of neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders (OR, 1·27; 95% CI, 1·12-1·44), and with attempting or committing suicide (OR, 1·31; 95% CI, 1·10-1·56). Accounting for temporality, any psychiatric disorder (IRR, 1·37; 95% CI, 1·08-1·74) and mood disorders (IRR, 1·43; 95% CI, 1·01-2·04) were associated with exposure to CMV. No association between traffic accident and CMV (OR, 1·06; 95% CI, 0·97-1·17) was found. CONCLUSIONS This large-scale serological study is the first study to examine temporality of pathogen exposure and to provide evidence of a causal relationship between T. gondii and schizophrenia, and between CMV and any psychiatric disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Betina B Trabjerg
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark
| | - Marianne Giørtz Pedersen
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Janna Nissen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Karina Banasik
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Erik Sørensen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kaspar René Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Margit Hørup Larsen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Erikstrup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peter Bruun-Rasmussen
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David Westergaard
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lise Wegner Thørner
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Hjalgrim
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark,; Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Søren Brunak
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carsten B Pedersen
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Werge
- The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Institute of Biological Psychiatry, Mental Health Centre Sct. Hans, Copenhagen University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Preben Bo Mortensen
- National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research, iPSYCH, Denmark; Centre for Integrated Register-based Research, CIRRAU, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Robert H Yolken
- Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Stanley Neurovirology Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, USA
| | - Henrik Ullum
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Bay-Richter C, Buttenschøn HN, Mors O, Eskelund A, Budac D, Kærlev L, Wegener G. Latent toxoplasmosis and psychiatric symptoms - A role of tryptophan metabolism? J Psychiatr Res 2019; 110:45-50. [PMID: 30583085 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (TOX) is a common parasite which infects approximately one third of the human population. In recent years, it has been suggested that latent toxoplasmosis may be a risk factor for the development of mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia and anxiety. With regards to depression the results have been varied. The main objective of this study was to examine subpopulations from the Danish PRISME and GENDEP populations for TOX IgG antibodies. These consisted of: a group with symptoms of anxiety, a group suffering from burnout syndrome, as well as two different subpopulations with depression of differing severity. The secondary objective of this study was to examine whether tryptophan metabolism was altered in TOX-positive subjects within each subpopulation. Our results show that the anxiety and burnout populations were more likely to be TOX IgG seropositive. Furthermore, we find that the moderate-severe but not mild-moderate depressive subpopulation were associated with TOX seropositivety, suggesting a possible role of symptom severity. Additionally, we found that TOX positive subjects in the anxiety and burnout subpopulations had altered tryptophan metabolism. This relationship did not exist in the mild-moderate depressive subpopulation. These results suggest that TOX seropositivity may be related to anxiety, burnout and potentially to severity of depression. We furthermore show that the psychiatric symptoms could be associated with an altered tryptophan metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilie Bay-Richter
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark.
| | | | - Ole Mors
- Psychosis Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark; The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research (iPSYCH), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Amanda Eskelund
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
| | | | - Linda Kærlev
- Research Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Gregers Wegener
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
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Bay-Richter C, Petersen E, Liebenberg N, Elfving B, Wegener G. Latent toxoplasmosis aggravates anxiety- and depressive-like behaviour and suggest a role of gene-environment interactions in the behavioural response to the parasite. Behav Brain Res 2019; 364:133-139. [PMID: 30768994 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (TOX) is an intracellular parasite which infects warm-blooded animals including humans. An increasing number of clinical studies now hypothesize that latent toxoplasmosis may be a risk factor for the development of psychiatric disease. For depression, the results have been varied and we speculate that genetic background is important for the response to latent toxoplasmosis. The main objective of this study was to elucidate gene - environment interactions in the behavioural response to TOX infection by use of genetically vulnerable animals (Flinders sensitive line, FSL) compared to control animals (Flinders resistant line, FRL). Our results show that all infected animals displayed increased anxiety-like behaviour whereas only genetically vulnerable animals (FSL rats) showed depressive-like behaviour as a consequence of the TOX infection. Furthermore, peripheral cytokine expression was increased following the infection, primarily independent of strain. In the given study 14 cytokines, chemokines, metabolic hormones, and growth factors were quantified with the bead-based Luminex200 system, however, only IL-1α expression was affected differently in FSL animals compared to FRL rats. These results suggest that latent TOX infection can induce anxiety-like behaviour independent of genetic background. Intriguingly, we also report that for depressive-like behaviour only the vulnerable rat strain is affected. This could explain the discrepancy in the literature as to whether TOX infection is a risk factor for depressive symptomatology. We propose that the low grade inflammation caused by the chronic infection is related to the development of behavioural symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilie Bay-Richter
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8240 Risskov, Denmark.
| | - Eskild Petersen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Royal Hospital, 111 Muscat, Oman; Institute for Clinical Medicine, 8000 Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Nico Liebenberg
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8240 Risskov, Denmark
| | - Betina Elfving
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8240 Risskov, Denmark
| | - Gregers Wegener
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8240 Risskov, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, AUGUST Centre, Aarhus University, Risskov, Denmark
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Radua J, Ramella-Cravaro V, Ioannidis JPA, Reichenberg A, Phiphopthatsanee N, Amir T, Yenn Thoo H, Oliver D, Davies C, Morgan C, McGuire P, Murray RM, Fusar-Poli P. What causes psychosis? An umbrella review of risk and protective factors. World Psychiatry 2018; 17:49-66. [PMID: 29352556 PMCID: PMC5775150 DOI: 10.1002/wps.20490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 334] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychosis is a heterogeneous psychiatric condition for which a multitude of risk and protective factors have been suggested. This umbrella review aimed to classify the strength of evidence for the associations between each factor and psychotic disorders whilst controlling for several biases. The Web of Knowledge database was searched to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies which examined associations between socio-demographic, parental, perinatal, later factors or antecedents and psychotic disorders, and which included a comparison group of healthy controls, published from 1965 to January 31, 2017. The literature search and data extraction followed PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. The association between each factor and ICD or DSM diagnoses of non-organic psychotic disorders was graded into convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, or non-significant according to a standardized classification based on: number of psychotic cases, random-effects p value, largest study 95% confidence interval, heterogeneity between studies, 95% prediction interval, small study effect, and excess significance bias. In order to assess evidence for temporality of association, we also conducted sensitivity analyses restricted to data from prospective studies. Fifty-five meta-analyses or systematic reviews were included in the umbrella review, corresponding to 683 individual studies and 170 putative risk or protective factors for psychotic disorders. Only the ultra-high-risk state for psychosis (odds ratio, OR=9.32, 95% CI: 4.91-17.72) and Black-Caribbean ethnicity in England (OR=4.87, 95% CI: 3.96-6.00) showed convincing evidence of association. Six factors were highly suggestive (ethnic minority in low ethnic density area, second generation immigrants, trait anhedonia, premorbid IQ, minor physical anomalies, and olfactory identification ability), and nine were suggestive (urbanicity, ethnic minority in high ethnic density area, first generation immigrants, North-African immigrants in Europe, winter/spring season of birth in Northern hemisphere, childhood social withdrawal, childhood trauma, Toxoplasma gondii IgG, and non-right handedness). When only prospective studies were considered, the evidence was convincing for ultra-high-risk state and suggestive for urbanicity only. In summary, this umbrella review found several factors to be associated with psychotic disorders with different levels of evidence. These risk or protective factors represent a starting point for further etiopathological research and for the improvement of the prediction of psychosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Radua
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries, CIBERSAM, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Valentina Ramella-Cravaro
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - John P A Ioannidis
- Department of Medicine, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Abraham Reichenberg
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Frieman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nacharin Phiphopthatsanee
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Taha Amir
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Hyi Yenn Thoo
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Dominic Oliver
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Cathy Davies
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Craig Morgan
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Center, London, UK
| | - Philip McGuire
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Center, London, UK
| | - Robin M Murray
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Center, London, UK
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions & Clinical-detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Center, London, UK
- OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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12
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de Witte LD, van Mierlo HC, Litjens M, Klein HC, Bahn S, Osterhaus AD. The association between antibodies to neurotropic pathogens and schizophrenia: a case-control study. NPJ SCHIZOPHRENIA 2015; 1:15041. [PMID: 27336045 PMCID: PMC4849462 DOI: 10.1038/npjschz.2015.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Revised: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Background: Exposure to neurotropic pathogens has been proposed as an environmental risk factor for schizophrenia and can be evaluated by measuring pathogen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG). Seroprevalence of pathogen-specific IgG reflects prior exposure, whereas IgG levels are associated with reactivity or reinfection. Several studies have examined these parameters in schizophrenia. However, results still remain inconclusive, as several previous studies did not correct for important confounding factors. Aims: To investigate whether schizophrenia is associated with prior exposure to neurotropic pathogens, or with their reactivation. Methods: We examined the seroprevalence and titer of IgG antibodies against herpes simplex virus-1 and -2 (HSV-1/HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Toxoplasma gondii (TG) in plasma of 368 adult patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder and 282 controls using ELISA. Results: We did not find evidence for an increased exposure to HSV-1, HSV-2, EBV, and TG in patients. There was a significantly higher seroprevalence of VZV (98.9% vs. 95.6%, P<0.05) and CMV (40.4% vs. 27.7%, P<0.001) in controls as compared with patients, which did not remain statistically significant after adjustment for various potential confounders. We did not find significant differences in antibody titers of seropositive patients and controls for any of the six pathogens. Conclusions: Our results do not support the hypothesis that increased exposure to neurotropic pathogens after birth is associated with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lot D de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans C van Mierlo
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Manja Litjens
- Department of Psychiatry, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht , Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hans C Klein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen , Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine Bahn
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge , Cambridge, UK
| | - Ab D Osterhaus
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center , Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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