Negative Effects of Latent Toxoplasmosis on Mental Health

Flegr, Jaroslav; Horáček, Jiří

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01012

Cited by 55 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…These retrospective estimates have been confirmed by prospective studies in the case of schizophrenia [ 39 , 40 ] (but see lack of evidence in a birth cohort study [ 41 ]). Multiple case–control studies also show that latent T. gondii infection is associated with systematic changes in human personality [ 42 , 43 ], ranging from risk-taking to entrepreneurship [ 44 , 45 ].…”

Section: Why Study the Behavioral Biology Of T Gondii mentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral biology of Toxoplasma gondii infection

et al. 2021

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Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle and a cosmopolitan host range. The asexual part of its life cycle can be perpetually sustained in a variety of intermediate hosts through a combination of carnivory and vertical transmission. However, T. gondii produces gametes only in felids after the predation of infected intermediate hosts. The parasite changes the behavior of its intermediate hosts by reducing their innate fear to cat odors and thereby plausibly increasing the probability that the definitive host will devour the infected host. Here, we provide a short description of such parasitic behavioral manipulation in laboratory rodents infected with T. gondii, along with a bird’s eye view of underpinning biological changes in the host. We also summarize critical gaps and opportunities for future research in this exciting research area with broad implications in the transdisciplinary study of host–parasite relationships.

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Section: Why Study the Behavioral Biology Of T Gondii mentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral biology of Toxoplasma gondii infection

et al. 2021

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“…The levels of D-arabinitol, a marker of candidiasis fungal infection, as well as of a phenylalanine metabolite of Clostridia species, the 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid, are increased in the urine of autistic children [66,67]. Accumulating evidence also suggests that latent chronic toxoplasmosis plays a role in the triggering and development of many psychiatric and neurological disorders, including ASD [68]. On the other hand, other studies have not shown a significant prevalence of infections in ASD [5,[69][70][71].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Abnormal Expression of Prion Disease Gene Pathway in Brains from Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorders

et al. 2020

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The role of infections in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is still controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate markers of infections and immune activation in ASD by performing a meta-analysis of publicly available whole-genome transcriptomic datasets of brain samples from autistic patients and otherwise normal people. Among the differentially expressed genes, no significant enrichment was observed for infectious diseases previously associated with ASD, including herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus in brain samples, nor was it found in peripheral blood from ASD patients. Interestingly, a significant number of genes belonging to the “prion diseases” pathway were found to be modulated in our ASD brain meta-analysis. Overall, our data do not support an association between infection and ASD. However, the data do provide support for the involvement of pathways related to other neurodegenerative diseases and give input to uncover novel pathogenetic mechanisms underlying ASD.

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“…Beyond the direct effects on the CNS, infections can augment inflammatory pathways, and consequently may have indirect roles in the etiopathogenesis of NPDs [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. As well, the most of infectious agents that involved in NPDs, such as Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Epstein Barr virus (EBV) is asymptomatic (latent) and co-or-multiple infection of them are common [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Although association of single infection with NPDs have been investigated in many studies [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], little is known about the association of co-or-multiple infections and NPDs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%