Toxoplasma gondii in individuals with schizophrenia: association with clinical and demographic factors and with mortality.
BACKGROUND
Increased rates of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii have been found in individuals with schizophrenia as compared with control groups, but the correlates of Toxoplasma exposure in schizophrenia have not been defined.


METHODS
We measured IgG class antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in 358 individuals with schizophrenia. We correlated Toxoplasma antibody status with clinical and demographic variables and examined the effect of Toxoplasma seropositivity on mortality in a follow-up period of up to 5 years.


RESULTS
Individuals with schizophrenia who had serological evidence of Toxoplasma infection were more likely to be female but did not differ in age, race, total symptom score, or other demographic or clinical characteristics. However, we found that serological evidence of Toxoplasma was associated with a significantly increased risk of dying of natural causes during the follow-up period (Cox proportional hazard ratio of 4.70; 95% confidence interval, 1.27-17.31, P = .020) adjusted for age, gender, and other clinical and demographic variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Toxoplasma infection may confer an increased risk for mortality from natural causes in schizophrenia. An understanding of the pathogenesis of Toxoplasma infections in individuals with schizophrenia might lead to new approaches to the management of this disorder.
Dickerson
Faith
F
The Stanley Research Center at the Sheppard Pratt Health System, 6501 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21204, USA. fdickerson@sheppardpratt.org
Boronow
John
J
Stallings
Cassie
C
Origoni
Andrea
A
Yolken
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D015984:Causality; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014122:Toxoplasma; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan