title: Relationship Between Toxoplasma gondii and Mood Disturbance in Women Veterans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan parasite with zoonotic potential that causes acute and chronic diseases, which has been associated with schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and suicidal behavior. Military personnel may be at increased risk for exposure to the parasite when deployed to countries with high prevalence rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women Veterans were recruited to participate in the study at an event to recognize women Veterans and later through e-mails. Blood samples were collected from 70 women Veterans (mean age: 47 years) and analyzed for T. gondii IgG titer. Participants completed a demographic instrument, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale, Profile of Mood States (POMS), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Military.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The infectivity rate was lower than the rate in the United States (11.4% [8 out of 70 were seropositive], but 6 of the 8 [75%] had been deployed outside the United States. Pearson correlations and t tests showed significant relationships between T. gondii seropositivity and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression score), POMS-depression, POMS-confusion, and POMS-anger subscale scores, and total mood disturbance score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to describe biobehavioral relationships between chronic T. gondii infection, depression, and dysphoric moods in a military veteran population.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Nursing, 12901 Bruce B Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612.
authors.forename: Allyson R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Nursing, 12901 Bruce B Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612.
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Beckie
authors.affiliation: Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC); and Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Physical Medicine and Rehabiliation, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 1055 Clermont Street, Denver, CO 80220.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Nursing, 12901 Bruce B Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612.
authors.forename: Jason W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Beckstead
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Medicine, 12901 Bruce B Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seyfang
authors.affiliation: Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19 Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), 1055 Clermont Street Denver, CO 80220.
authors.forename: Teodor T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Postolache
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida College of Nursing, 12901 Bruce B Downs Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612.
authors.forename: Maureen W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Groer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan