SEROPREVALENCE OF <i>TOXOPLASMA GONDII</i> AMONG SCHIZOPHRENICS AT HOSPITAL KAJANG

Abstract

Studies have found a high seroprevalence of T. gondii in schizophrenia patients than controls. This casecontrol study was done to determine the serprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and to identify its risk factors among schizophrenia patients at Hospital Kajang. Eighty-eight (88) schizophrenia patients and 88 nonpsychiatric controls were examined for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic and behavioral data among the respondents. From the results, the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was significantly higher (51.0%) in schizophrenia patients than in controls (30.7%); (OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 2.16-3.01; p = 0.023. There was no significant association between the socio-demographic factors and toxoplasmosis. Beef consumption (p = 0.004, OR = 3.852, CI: 1.550-9.569), pork consumption (p<0.001, OR = 13.089, 95%CI: 4.730-36.219) and risky cat contact (p = 0.047, OR = 4.061, 95% CI: 1.985-16.745), were found to be significantly associated with T. gondii infection. Our results show that there is a relationship between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia.

Seropositivity and Serointensity of &lt;I&gt;Toxoplasma gondii&lt;/I&gt; Antibodies and DNA among Patients with Schizophrenia

“…There was no significant difference between Tg IgM antibody in patients with schizophrenia and controls. This finding was consistent with previous studies [ 34 - 36 ]. This could probably be due to the fact that patients often present late to the hospital.…”

Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with schizophrenia

“…3 , 23 For anti-T. gondii IgM, the results of the present study x disagree with other studies who report no significant difference between schizophrenic patients and control. 1,3,18,24 T. gondii has emerged as a prime candidate etiologic factor in some cases of schizophrenia for a variety of reasons. 19 Of these, (i) many studies have reported a higher prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in sera of schizophrenic patients compared with control, (ii) some peoples with adult toxoplasmosis develop psychotic symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia, (iii) epidemiologically the existence of many similarities between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia, (iv) antipsychotic drugs can also inhibit T.gondii, (v) elevated level of dopamine in commonly seen in schizophrenic patients that coincide with elevated level of dopamine experimental animal infected with T. gondii (vi) schizophrenic patients when compared with control have had a greater exposure to cats in children.…”

“…Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite belong to phylum Apicomplexa. 1 Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite found worldwide, 2 that infects all kinds of mammals, including cats, livestock, and human beings. In its life cycle, cats and other felids are the definitive hosts and the other warm-blooded vertebrates are intermediate hosts.…”

Seroprevalence and Risk Factor of Toxoplasmosis in Schizophrenia Patients Referred to Grhasia Psychiatric Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

“…Association of meat consumption with toxoplasmosis in schizophrenia also found by Juannah et al, (2013) in Malaysia, Alvarado-Esquivel et al, (2011) in Mexico, Wang et al, (2014) in China, dan Torrey et al, (2012) in USA. Meat consumption assume the contamination of uncooked meat with Tg bradizoites and unperfectly cooked, so the bradizoites could be activated become tachyzoites and detected in serology test of Tg antibody.…”