title: Serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Herpesvidae family viruses in individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent etiological studies for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have focused on the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii and Herpesvirdae family viruses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the magnitude of T. gondii, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and healthy controls by using serologic diagnostic methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serologic diagnostic method was used to determine the prevalence and level of antibodies to T gondii, CMV HSV-1 and HSV-2 in individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and unaffected controls recruited from Butajira, Ethiopia. The study was conducted from March to May 2009. A total of 495 serum samples were analysed for the presence and level of immunoglobulin G (IgG) to T. gondii, CMV HSV-1, and HSV-2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence of T gondii infection was higher in individuals with schizophrenia [adjusted odds ratio = 4.7; 95% CI (1.5, 15.1)] and bipolar disorder [adjusted odds ratio = 3.0; 95% CI (1.1, 8.6)] than in unaffected controls. The level of IgG to CMV was also significantly higher in individuals with schizophrenia and bipoar disorder than in unaffected controls. Younger individuals with schizophrenia (< 25 years old) also had a significantly higher level of IgG to CMV than matched unaffected controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides additional evidence that infection with 7T gondii and CMV may be associated with some cases of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Additional studies should focus on antibodies to these agents in the sera and CSF of individuals with recent-onset psychosis.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, P.O. Box 9086.
authors: Yared
authors: Y
authors: Tedla
authors: Teshome
authors: T
authors: Shibre
authors: Oumer
authors: O
authors: Ali
authors: Geletta
authors: G
authors: Tadele
authors: Yimtubezinash
authors: Y
authors: Woldeamanuel
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Asrat
authors: Abraham
authors: A
authors: Aseffa
authors: Wude
authors: W
authors: Mihret
authors: Markos
authors: M
authors: Abebe
authors: Atalaye
authors: A
authors: Alem
authors: Girmay
authors: G
authors: Medhin
authors: Abebe
authors: A
authors: Habte
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000821:virology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000821:virology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G