Investigation of the relationship between schizophrenia and toxoplasmosis in Van province, Turkey

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Departments of Parasitology, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine

2 SBÜ􀇆 Van Training and Research Hospital for Mental and Neurological Diseases

3 SBÜ􀇆 Van Training and Research Hospital for Mental and Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology

4 SBÜ􀇆 Van Training and Research Hospital for Mental and , Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Gevaş Vocational School ,Van, Turkey

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a worldwide, serious neuropsychiatric disorder of unknown cause.
Previous studies showed that infectious agents may play a role in its etiology. Among them, T. gondii was
strongly hypothesized.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the IgG and IgM seroprevalence of T. gondii in
schizophrenia patients.
Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted on 190 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in Van
province, Turkey. Also included as the control group were 100 healthy individuals. Anti-T. gondii IgG
and IgM antibody positivity was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in blood
samples taken from both groups.
Results: Anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was detected in 120 schizophrenic patients (63.2%), and in 100
(29%) healthy controls. Anti-T. gondii IgM antibody seropositivity was not detected in either group.
Conclusion: In line with the data obtained in the study carried out in Van province, it was concluded
that individuals infected with T. gondii were more likely to develop schizophrenia. Further studies are
recommended to prove the relationship between T. gondii and schizophrenia.

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