Increased prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Vlatković, Suzana; Šagud, Marina; Štrac, Dubravka Švob; Sviben, Mario; Živković, Maja; Vilibić, Maja; Vuksan-Ćusa, Bjanka; Mihaljević-Peleš, Alma; Pivac, Nela

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2017.08.006

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Latent Toxoplasma infection has been associated with negative symptoms and excited symptoms, and specifically with delusion reference and alogia, independently of sociodemographic characteristics, treatments and comorbidities. This is consistent with previous studies suggesting that Toxoplasma was associated with treatment resistance (Vlatkovic et al, 2017) and more specifically with increased negative symptoms (Esshili et al, 2016). The absence of association between Toxoplasma and negative symptoms in Karabulut et al study was probably due to statistical power lack (N=85) (Karabulut et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…From a clinical point of view, latent Toxoplasma infection has been associated with older age of SZ onset (Esshili et al, 2016), treatment resistance (Vlatkovic et al, 2017), more severe illness course (Celik et al, 2015) and lower functioning (Esshili et al, 2016). Latent Toxoplasma infection has been associated with negative symptoms in one study (Esshili et al, 2016), but not in one another (Karabulut et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Latent toxoplasma infection in real-world schizophrenia: Results from the national FACE-SZ cohort

Boyer

Godin

Chéreau

et al. 2018

Schizophrenia Research

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The present findings suggest that Toxoplasma is almost 3 times more frequent in SZ population compared to general population in France. The potential cerebral underpinnings of the association of latent Toxoplasma infection and the above-mentioned outcomes have been discussed. Future studies should confirm that TATA may be effective to reduce Toxoplasma-associated depressive symptoms and low-grade peripheral inflammation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Latent toxoplasma infection in real-world schizophrenia: Results from the national FACE-SZ cohort

Boyer

Godin

Chéreau

et al. 2018

Schizophrenia Research

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“…Antipsychotics are the first-line agents in the treatment of schizophrenia, but the clinical response is highly variable. Between 23% ( Demjaha et al, 2017 ) and 47% ( Vlatkovic et al, 2018 ) of patients met the criteria for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), although the definition has varied across different studies ( Howes et al, 2017 ). In spite of more than 60 years of the widespread use of antipsychotics, TRS continues to present an enormous challenge ( Šagud, 2015 ; Lally et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haplotypic and Genotypic Association of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase rs4680 and rs4818 Polymorphisms and Treatment Resistance in Schizophrenia

et al. 2018

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Treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) continues to be a challenge. It was related to different factors, including alterations in the activity of brain dopaminergic system, which could be influenced by the dopamine-degrading enzyme, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). Variants of the COMT gene have been extensively studied as risk factors for schizophrenia; however, their association with TRS has been poorly investigated. The aim of the present study was to determine the haplotypic and genotypic association of COMT rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphisms with the presence of TRS. Overall, 931 Caucasian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (386 females and 545 males) were included, while 270 participants met the criteria for TRS. In males, no significant haplotypic and genotypic associations between COMT rs4680 and rs4818 polymorphisms and TRS were detected. However, genotypic analyses demonstrated higher frequency of COMT rs4680 AA genotype carriers compared to G-allele carriers (p = 0.033) and higher frequency of COMT rs4818 CC genotype carriers than G-allele carriers (p = 0.014) in females with TRS. Haplotype analyses confirmed that the presence of the G allele in females was associated with lower risk of TRS. In women with TRS, the high activity G-G/G-G haplotype was rare, while carriers of other haplotypes were overrepresented (p = 0.009). Such associations of COMT rs4680 and rs4818 high-activity (G variants), as well as G-G/G-G haplotype, with the lower risk of TRS in females, but not in males, suggest significant, but sex-specific influence of COMT variants on the development of treatment-resistance in patients with schizophrenia. However, due to relatively low number of females, those findings require replication in a larger sample.

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“…Study of Lindgren and collaborators demonstrated a significant association between T. gondii seropositivity and psychotic symptoms [76]. Vlatkovic and collaborators find an increased prevalence of T. gondii infection in a patient with Schizophrenia [77]. So, increased risk of developing toxoplasmosis infection prior to the onset of Schizophrenia was reported in several epidemiological, neurobiological and parasitological studies.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Toxoplasma Immunomodulation Related to Neuropsychiatric Diseases

Adnan¹

2020

Parasitology and Microbiology Research

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Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) causes toxoplasmic encephalitis resulting from reactivation of latent toxoplasmosis. It is the most frequent clinical manifestation, characterized by multiple necrotizing brain lesions. Bradyzoite tissue cysts activate an immune response that has a major impact on controlling parasite persistence in the brain. The immune mechanisms stimulated in the brain cause a local inflammatory mediated by Th1 immune reaction cytokines. Several studies have linked this process to that active during different neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Schizophrenia. In addition to the immune reaction activated in the brain, this latter has the capacity to stimulate neurotransmitter production. T. gondii induces high concentrations of dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase in the central nervous system and has also been shown to increase kynurenine/tryptophan ratio and elevated Kynurenic acid level, mainly in astrocyte cells. This imbalance plays a role in the pathophysiology of Schizophrenia. Results of different studies explain in this chapter support the idea that Toxoplasma is an etiological factor in Schizophrenia.

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Increased prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

Cited by 14 publications

References 9 publications

Latent toxoplasma infection in real-world schizophrenia: Results from the national FACE-SZ cohort

Latent toxoplasma infection in real-world schizophrenia: Results from the national FACE-SZ cohort

Haplotypic and Genotypic Association of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase rs4680 and rs4818 Polymorphisms and Treatment Resistance in Schizophrenia

Toxoplasma Immunomodulation Related to Neuropsychiatric Diseases

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