title: Brain cancer mortality rates increase with Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in France.
abstract: The incidence of adult brain cancer was previously shown to be higher in countries where the parasite Toxoplasma gondii is common, suggesting that this brain protozoan could potentially increase the risk of tumor formation. Using countries as replicates has, however, several potential confounding factors, particularly because detection rates vary with country wealth. Using an independent dataset entirely within France, we further establish the significance of the association between T. gondii and brain cancer and find additional demographic resolution. In adult age classes 55 years and older, regional mortality rates due to brain cancer correlated positively with the local seroprevalence of T. gondii. This effect was particularly strong for men. While this novel evidence of a significant statistical association between T. gondii infection and brain cancer does not demonstrate causation, these results suggest that investigations at the scale of the individual are merited.
authors.affiliation: IRD, MIVEGEC (UMR CNRS/IRD/UM1), 911 Ave. Agropolis, BP 64501, FR-34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. vittecoq@tourduvalat.org
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vittecoq
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elguero
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lafferty
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roche
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brodeur
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gauthier-Clerc
authors.forename: Dorothée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Missé
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*