Latent toxoplasmosis is a prevalent chronic infection caused by a protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Recent studies have shown that T. gondii may affect thyroid hormone levels and thus induce behavioral alteration. However, this correlation has been inadequately investigated. Therefore, we aimed to examine the relationship between latent toxoplasmosis and thyroid hormone levels in schizophrenic patients. For this purpose, blood samples and sociodemographic information were collected from 101 schizophrenic patients attending three psychiatric hospitals in Kurdistan region of Iraq. Anti-T. gondii-IgG antibodies and thyroid hormones levels (TSH, T3, T4) were determined in sera of all patients using ELISA technique. Anti-T. gondii-IgG antibodies were detected in sera of 40 (39.6%) out of 101 schizophrenic patients. Logistic regression analysis showed significant association between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenic patients in 50-60 age group (OR=6.177, p=0.05), and un-employed patients (OR=3.562, p=0.05). Data analysis showed non-significant difference in TSH levels between IgG seropositive and IgG seronegative group (p>0.05). On the other hand, T4 levels were significantly higher in the seropositive (10.16 ± 2.61) than seronegative group (7.01 ± 2.01), with highly significant positive correlation between IgG and T4 levels (p= 0.001). Finally, T3 levels were significantly higher in the seropositive (1.91 ± 0.5) than seronegative group (1.12 ± 0.43), with non-significant positive correlation between IgG and T3 levels (p=0.30). Owing to the fact that there was statistically significant increase in thyroid hormone levels in T. gondii seropositive patients, our results suggest that there is a significant association between toxoplasmosis and thyroid hormone levels in schizophrenic patients.
Irvingia gabonensis Kernel powder and the oil extracts (±testa) were mixed with commercial animal feed (50:50)and fed to groups of animals. Animals in groups A and B were fed with the powder at an equivalent concentration of 67mg/kg body weightwhile those in groups C and D were fed with the equivalent4ml of the oil extract in the mixture. Animals in group E, the control, were fed on the commercial feed only. All the animals were fed in an aluminum cage for 21 days and sacrificed the following day. Blood from the jugular vein was collected in universal bottles and used for determination of protein and enzymatic profiles of these animals. Groups A and B showed appreciable elevation of albumin. Elevated transaminases were indicative of early signs of liver damage. The observation was attributed principally to the phytochemical component of the testa present in these sample types A and C fed to the animals under the restricted dietary laboratory condition. The study has shown that under unrestricted dietary condition, incorporation of Irvingia gabonensis kernel in animal feed had beneficial effects.
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