title: Toxoplasma gondii infection and suicide attempts: a case-control study in psychiatric outpatients.
abstract: The association of Toxoplasma gondii infection with suicide attempts has been scarcely evaluated. Two hundred eighty-three psychiatric outpatients (156 patients with history of suicide attempt and 127 control patients without history of suicide attempt) were examined with enzyme-linked immunoassays for Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibodies. Seroprevalences of Toxoplasma IgG and IgM in the cases and the controls were similar: 7 (4.5%) and 3 (1.9%) vs. 10 (7.9%) and 3 (2.4%) (p = 0.23 and p = 0.55), respectively. In contrast, the Toxoplasma IgG levels higher than 150 IU/ml were more frequently observed in the cases than in the controls (100% vs. 50%, respectively; p = 0.04). The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection increased with age and with the number of suicide attempts. Toxoplasma seropositivity was associated with reflex impairment, national trips, and snake meat consumption. Our results suggest that although seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection is not associated with suicide attempts, a high anti-Toxoplasma antibody level is, therefore warranting further research.
authors.affiliation: *Faculty of Medicine, and †Institute for Scientific Research, Juárez University of Durango State, Avenida Universidad, Durango, Mexico; ‡Hospital of Mental Health "Dr. Miguel Vallebueno," Durango City, Secretary of Health, Avenida Fidel Velázquez, Durango, Mexico; and §Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Medical School, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Cosme
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarado-Esquivel
authors.forename: Luis Francisco
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Anguiano
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Arnaud-Gil
authors.forename: Julio César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: López-Longoria
authors.forename: Luis Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Molina-Espinoza
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Estrada-Martínez
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Liesenfeld
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Tinoco
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sifuentes-Álvarez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salas-Martínez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008875:Middle Aged; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M