Association between anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar in patients hospitalized in the psychiatric ward
Abdolhossein Dalimiasl, Mahdi Mosayebi, Behzad Ghorbanzadeh, Mohsen Ghasemi, Reza Hajihossein
Abstract
Background
Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular parasite and is a worldwide disease. In laboratory, a mouse has been observed with the presence of this parasite in the brain which increased the level of dopamine in the brain. The evidence showed that dopamine releasing in the nucleus accumbens by activating the retro hippocampal region can disrupt the fornix section of brain as evolve to develop a psychosis in human.
Methods
This retrospective case-control study was conducted in patients with schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar referred to psychiatric clinic in Amir Kabir hospital, Arak. After psychiatric diagnosis of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, 2ml of blood samples were acquired from 76 patients and 75 controls without any psychotic illness or bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses with safety issues. The serum of samples was separated in laboratory and was kept until the day of testing at -20˚C. After collecting all the samples; Anti-Toxoplasma lgG on the case and control samples were analysed by ELISA. Results were analysed by SPSS software version 16 and were calculated by χ2 tests.
Results
55.26 per cent of patients (42 persons) were infected with Toxoplasma gondii and in the control group 36 per cent (27 patients) were infected, that the different between them was significant (p < 0/05). Toxoplasmosis in psychotic men was more than psychotic women significantly (p < 0/05). Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with schizophrenia with psychotic bipolar patients showed no significant difference.
Conclusion
Patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder showed significantly higher rate than healthy people against Toxoplasma gondii infection. Prevention of infection with this parasite is effective in reducing the risk of psychosis.
Full Text:
Toxoplasmosis is caused by an intracellular parasite and is a worldwide disease. In laboratory, a mouse has been observed with the presence of this parasite in the brain which increased the level of dopamine in the brain. The evidence showed that dopamine releasing in the nucleus accumbens by activating the retro hippocampal region can disrupt the fornix section of brain as evolve to develop a psychosis in human.
Methods
This retrospective case-control study was conducted in patients with schizophrenia and psychotic bipolar referred to psychiatric clinic in Amir Kabir hospital, Arak. After psychiatric diagnosis of patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, 2ml of blood samples were acquired from 76 patients and 75 controls without any psychotic illness or bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses with safety issues. The serum of samples was separated in laboratory and was kept until the day of testing at -20˚C. After collecting all the samples; Anti-Toxoplasma lgG on the case and control samples were analysed by ELISA. Results were analysed by SPSS software version 16 and were calculated by χ2 tests.
Results
55.26 per cent of patients (42 persons) were infected with Toxoplasma gondii and in the control group 36 per cent (27 patients) were infected, that the different between them was significant (p < 0/05). Toxoplasmosis in psychotic men was more than psychotic women significantly (p < 0/05). Toxoplasma gondii infection in patients with schizophrenia with psychotic bipolar patients showed no significant difference.
Conclusion
Patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder showed significantly higher rate than healthy people against Toxoplasma gondii infection. Prevention of infection with this parasite is effective in reducing the risk of psychosis.
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