Toxoplasma Gondii Seropositivity Among Schizophrenia Patients, And Risk Assessment.

Abstract

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan that crosses the blood-brain barrier to reach the central nervous system. Numerous case-control epidemiological studies show a higher prevalence of T. gondii infestation in individuals with various psychiatric and behavioral disorders, including schizophrenia.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to demonstrate the links between schizophrenia and T. gondii infestation, to establish the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in schizophrenic patients, and to compare the prevalence and contributing factors with the results of our laboratory and those in the literature.

Methods: 46 blood samples were collected from patients with schizophrenia in our hospital, accompanied by a questionnaire on risk factors for toxoplasmosis (residence, education level, meat consumption, contact with cats, hygiene). Anti-toxoplasma IgG and IgM levels were measured using the ABBOT Architect analyzer.

Results: The study shows that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in schizophrenic subjects is 60.9%. A significant relationship between age and toxoplasma seroprevalence (P = 0.038) has been found. However, we did not find a link between other factors and toxoplasma seroprevalence among schizophrenia patients.

Conclusions: The prevalence of toxoplasmosis is significant (60.9%) compared to the rate recorded in the general population, suggesting that brain cysts from a primary toxoplasma infection could be influencing psychiatric pathology/disorders.