João Luís Vieira Monteiro de Barros1, Izabela Guimarães Barbosa2, Haitham Salem3, Natalia Pessoa Rocha4, Arthur Kummer2, Olaoluwa O Okusaga3, Jair C Soares3, Antonio Lucio Teixeira5. 1. Biology Department, The College of Idaho, Caldwell, Idaho, USA; Neuroscience Division, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 2. Neuroscience Division, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 3. Neuropsychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA. 4. Neuroscience Division, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Neuropsychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA. 5. Neuroscience Division, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Medical Investigation, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Neuropsychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA; Harris County Psychiatric Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: Antonio.L.Teixeira@uth.tmc.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and the development of bipolar disorder (BD) has long been investigated, yet to date it is still poorly understood and documented. The aim of this review is to derive a summary estimate of the strength of the association between infection with T. gondii and BD from the available published studies. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using PubMed, LILACS, PsycINFO, and Embase databases. Studies which included a proportion of seropositive BD patients and controls were further examined in a meta-analysis. RESULTS: One hundred eighteen citations were initially retrieved. Thirteen studies were included in our systematic review. Eight out of these thirteen studies were included in our meta-analysis. Statistical analyses showed that T. gondii infection is associated with with BD (OR=1.26). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size was the major limitation among the studies that carried out serological analyses. In addition, the available studies did not have enough information on disease status/severity or type of bipolar disorder. Also, it was not possible to analyze pregnancy status or perinatal infection. Future studies addressing the aforementioned topics are clearly needed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite heterogeneous results, patients with BD are more likely to be infected by T. gondii than controls. Early T. gondii infection might predispose the development of BD. T.gondii infection is becoming clinically relevant in psychiatric disorders and future mechanistic studies are required to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between Toxoplasma gondii infection and the development of bipolar disorder (BD) has long been investigated, yet to date it is still poorly understood and documented. The aim of this review is to derive a summary estimate of the strength of the association between infection with T. gondii and BD from the available published studies. METHODS: A systematic review was performed using PubMed, LILACS, PsycINFO, and Embase databases. Studies which included a proportion of seropositive BD patients and controls were further examined in a meta-analysis. RESULTS: One hundred eighteen citations were initially retrieved. Thirteen studies were included in our systematic review. Eight out of these thirteen studies were included in our meta-analysis. Statistical analyses showed that T. gondii infection is associated with with BD (OR=1.26). LIMITATIONS: Small sample size was the major limitation among the studies that carried out serological analyses. In addition, the available studies did not have enough information on disease status/severity or type of bipolar disorder. Also, it was not possible to analyze pregnancy status or perinatal infection. Future studies addressing the aforementioned topics are clearly needed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite heterogeneous results, patients with BD are more likely to be infected by T. gondii than controls. Early T. gondii infection might predispose the development of BD. T.gondii infection is becoming clinically relevant in psychiatric disorders and future mechanistic studies are required to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
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: Victoria Rodriguez; Luis Alameda; Giulia Trotta; Edoardo Spinazzola; Paolo Marino; Sandra L Matheson; Kristin R Laurens; Robin M Murray; Evangelos Vassos Journal: Schizophr Bull Date: 2021-07-08 Impact factor: 9.306