BACKGROUND: A high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection has been detected in psychiatric patients, particularly in schizophrenia cases. METHODS: In the present study 98 patients suffering from schizophrenia (58 inpatients and 40 first-episode patients) and 96 control patients (50 healthy volunteers and 46 with a depressive disorder) were examined for the presence of both IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We applied the Bradford Hill criteria to identify the weight of causal inference. RESULTS: The positivity rate of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies among individuals with schizophrenia (57.1%) was significantly higher than in healthy controls (29.2%). There were no associations between immune status ratio (ISR) values and the risk of schizophrenia. The weight of evidence approach using the Bradford Hill criteria revealed a 92% probability of a causal association. CONCLUSION: Our results show that exposure to T. gondii may lead to schizophrenia.
BACKGROUND: A high seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection has been detected in psychiatricpatients, particularly in schizophrenia cases. METHODS: In the present study 98 patients suffering from schizophrenia (58 inpatients and 40 first-episode patients) and 96 control patients (50 healthy volunteers and 46 with a depressive disorder) were examined for the presence of both IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We applied the Bradford Hill criteria to identify the weight of causal inference. RESULTS: The positivity rate of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies among individuals with schizophrenia (57.1%) was significantly higher than in healthy controls (29.2%). There were no associations between immune status ratio (ISR) values and the risk of schizophrenia. The weight of evidence approach using the Bradford Hill criteria revealed a 92% probability of a causal association. CONCLUSION: Our results show that exposure to T. gondii may lead to schizophrenia.
Authors: Abhishek Wadhawan; Aline Dagdag; Allyson Duffy; Melanie L Daue; Kathy A Ryan; Lisa A Brenner; John W Stiller; Toni I Pollin; Maureen W Groer; Xuemei Huang; Christopher A Lowry; Braxton D Mitchell; Teodor T Postolache Journal: Pteridines Date: 2017-11-22 Impact factor: 0.581
Authors: Geetha Kannan; Joshua A Crawford; ChunXia Yang; Kristin L Gressitt; Chinezimuzo Ihenatu; Irina N Krasnova; Jean Lud Cadet; Robert H Yolken; Emily G Severance; Mikhail V Pletnikov Journal: Neurobiol Dis Date: 2016-03-08 Impact factor: 5.996
Authors: Ross McFarland; Zi Teng Wang; Yan Jouroukhin; Ye Li; Olga Mychko; Isabelle Coppens; Jianchun Xiao; Lorraine Jones-Brando; Robert H Yolken; L David Sibley; Mikhail V Pletnikov Journal: Behav Brain Res Date: 2018-03-16 Impact factor: 3.332
Authors: M Nourollahpour Shiadeh; A Rostami; B D Pearce; M Gholipourmalekabadi; D J Newport; M Danesh; S Mehravar; S J Seyyedtabaei Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2016-08-08 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: Bawo O James; Imafidon O Agbonile; Modupe Okolo; Ambrose O Lawani; Joyce O Omoaregba Journal: Pathog Glob Health Date: 2013-06 Impact factor: 2.894