The role of latent toxoplasmosis in the aetiopathogenesis of schizophrenia--the risk factor or an indication of a contact with cat?
We assessed IgG antibody to Toxoplasma gondii in 300 inpatients with schizophrenia (SG), 150 outpatients with anxiety and depressive disorders (PCG), and 150 healthy blood donors (HCG). Seropositivity rates were 60.7% for SG, 36.7% for PCG, and 45.3% for HCG (p<0.001). The seropositivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in SG was significantly higher that in PCG (chi2 = 23.11, OR = 2.66, p = 0.001) and HCG (chi2 = 9.52, OR = 1.86, p = 0.002). Among SG, 85% of those who reported close cat contact had IgG antibodies to T. gondii. Close cat contacts were reported by 59% of SG, 6% of PCG, and 9% of HCG (p<0.001). There was a nonsignificant positive association between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia for people with a contact with a cat (OR = 2.221, p = 0.127, CI95 = 0.796-6.192), and significant negative association between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia for people without contact with a cat (OR = 0.532, p = 0.009, CI95 = 0.332-0.854). Close cat contact (OR = 2.679, p<0.001), 51-65-year age group (OR = 1.703, p<0.001) and education [illiterate+primary (OR = 6.146, p<0.001) and high school (OR = 1.974, p = 0.023)] were detected as independent risk factors in multivariate logistic regression. The effect of toxoplasmosis on risk of schizophrenia disappeared in the complex model analyzed with multivariate logistic regression. In conclusion, our data suggest that the toxoplasmosis has no direct effect on the risk of schizophrenia in Turkey but is just an indication of previous contacts with a cat.
Yuksel
Pelin
P
Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Alpay
Nihat
N
Babur
Cahit
C
Bayar
Reha
R
Saribas
Suat
S
Karakose
Ali Riza
AR
Aksoy
Cana
C
Aslan
Mustafa
M
Mehmetali
Seyfi
S
Kilic
Selcuk
S
Balcioglu
Ibrahim
I
Hamanca
Ozlem
O
Dirican
Ahmet
A
Kucukbasmaci
Omer
O
Oner
Ali
A
Torun
Muzeyyen Mamal
MM
Kocazeybek
Bekir
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G